WILLIAM BONNIN

William (Bill) K. Bonnin, 48, of Neenah, WI, passed away on September 7, 2024. He was born on January 12, 1976, in Neenah, WI, to Kirby Bonnin and Lois (Hassell) Bonnin.

Bill was a son, a brother, an uncle, and a friend to many. He enjoyed playing cards with family members, especially Pinochle, and looked forward to the large family reunions to meet his many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Known for his vibrant personality, Bill was truly the life of the party, with an incredible sense of humor. Bill participated in the Boy's/Girl's Brigade and his church youth group, and he was a dedicated Girl Scout cookie enthusiast, particularly fond of peanut butter patties. He also enjoyed pick-up games of football and broomball with friends.

Bill spent most of his life in Neenah. Bill worked a wide variety of positions, from delivering pizzas to working at convenience stores, in retail, and security. Bill also had a deep appreciation for classic cars and motorcycles, which led him to attend Motorcycle Mechanics School in Arizona in 2012, where he hoped to work for Harley Davidson. Bill loved his last job at Moto Mart where he was shift leader and later cashier due to the progression of weakness in his arms and hands.

Bill enjoyed gaming and attending Gen-Con with his friends. He was always up for any kind of game, whether it was a board game or a video game. Isaac Schavet always introduced Bill to new video games whenever they saw each other. He also loved snowboarding with his signature purple snowboard. He was also known for his signature cowboy boots. Bill was passionate about watching science fiction, superhero, and fantasy movies—anything that could make him laugh. He also had a strong love of fiction and knew everything there was to know about his favorite comics and films. He was a fan of football, particularly of the Green Bay Packers, and loved watching, attending their games, and wearing his Packers jacket.

Bill was a devoted and faithful friend—loyal, protective, and generous. He loved deeply and had an incredible sense of humor. He knew how to make people laugh, often using the term “chicka monkey” as a playful term of endearment. His personality always came with a little sass (or sometimes, a lot!).

Bill wasn't one for knocking—he would simply open the door and yell, “Knock knock!” because he always knew he was welcome.

Bill was a man of faith who believed in Jesus. He acknowledged his need for Him and accepted Jesus as his Savior, believing that He died for him. Because of this, we believe that when Bill arrived in heaven, he probably yelled, “Knock knock!”

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8

Bill is preceded in death by his grandparents, Nathan and Janice Bonnin, Harold Hassell and Klementine (Hassell) Hammen; his uncles, David (Nancy) Hassell, Russell (Yvonne) Hassell, Curtis Hassell, Duane Moder, and James Schavet; his aunts: Karla Bonnin and Marlene Dietzen.

He is survived by his sister Cynthia (Tony) Schulze and their children: Michael, Daniel, JeanAnne, Nicole, Joy, William, David, Benjamin, and Isaac; his uncles: Carey (Bonnie) Bonnin, Ron Hassell, Richard Hassell, Clair Hassell, Chris (Cheryl) Hassell, Gale (Barb) Hassell, Dennis (Patti) Hassell; aunts: Laurie Bonnin, Joan Moder, Carol Schavet, Diane Bucklin, and Lisa Hassell and his many cousins.

Bill is further survived by his childhood friend, Josh (Jen) Schmalz and their children: Ethan, Ty, and Sam who called Bill, ‘uncle'. A lot of the memories and insights of Bill, included in this obituary, were shared by Josh; i.e. his quote: “Until we meet again, Billy” - Josh.

One of Bill's final wishes was for those who knew him to celebrate his life and cherish the good times they shared. He wanted people to be happy and continue spreading laughter, just as he always did.

An evening visitation will be held at Westgor Funeral Home, 1140 Appleton Road, Menasha, WI, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 27.

A funeral service for Bill will be held at Christ the Rock Community Church, W6254 US-10 #114, Menasha, WI, on Saturday, September 28, at 11:00 a.m., with a visitation starting at 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The ALS Association in memory of William.