Richard Ivan Bonn

Richard (Dick) Bonn passed away peacefully in the loving care of his family from complications of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma T-Cell. Dick was born on August 11, 1937 in Salem, OR to Lawrence and Eleanor Bonn, and is survived by his wife Connie, brothers Neil and Terry Bonn, sisters Kathy Haines and Colleen Connor and three sons Ted, Tim and Tom Bonn.Dick grew up in a rural farming community north of Salem, attended North Salem High School and graduated from OSU in 1960. He spent the next summer working with fur seals in the Pribilof Islands and then attended Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, RI. He served 26 years in the navy, 4 years active and 22 years in the reserves. He held his military career in high regards, was proud to wear the uniform of our great nation and be part of a select few.A week after his commission into the Navy, he married Connie Stewart in Salem, OR and they immediately began their naval journey together in Charleston, SC at Mine Sweeper School. Four months later they began his permanent duty at Long Beach, CA.Active duty time started aboard the USS Pivot (MSO-463) as Mine Counter Measures Officer and then on the USS Merrick (AKA-97) as Gunnery Officer and Boat Group Commander. While on the Merrick, he participated in the Cuban Blockade and made preparations for landing Marines and heavy equipment ashore. Following his active duty, Dick earned his Master Degree in Wildlife Biology at Humboldt State University, Arcata, CA. While in the Navy Reserves, he served twice as a unit Executive Officer and three times as a unit Commanding Officer. In the civilian end of things, Dick worked as a Wildlife Biologist for the Soil Conservation Service in Oregon, Virginia and Ohio. In 1978 he switched to the Bureau of Land Management in Portland and later in Medford. He spent much time on spotted owl issues and retired in 1995.Dick loved to travel with his wife, Connie, and made many trips throughout the world; including adventures in the Pacific, Atlantic, Baltic, Mediterranean and Caribbean, and visited 53 countries on six continents. They also enjoyed wintering in Desert Hot Spring, CA. for 8 years. Dick belonged to a number of organizations including The Wildlife Society, Military Officers Association, OSU Alumni and Veterans of Foreign Wars and enjoyed camping, hunting and fishing, gardening, wood carving and reading. Services will be held 11AM Saturday, September 28, 2013 @ Mid Valley Community Church, Woodburn, OR. Interment will be 9AM, Friday, September 27, 2013 @ Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, OR.Arrangements by Simon-Cornwell Colonial Chapel- Woodburn

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Richard Ivan Bonn

August 11, 1937 - September 21, 2013