Bonnie Kay Whipple's Obituary
Bonnie (Bonz) K Whipple was born on October 9th 1956 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Bonnie passed away Wednesday May 12th, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. peacefully, in her home with her sister by her side. She was 64 years old. She is at rest after a long battle of fighting her second round of cancer (she fought and won the first time in 2006).
Bonnie was the sixth baby Whipple out of nine siblings. She loved to spend time outside, particularly when rockhounding with her dad. Bonnie grew into a unique young adult with a passion for gardening and good food. Her early career was in the food industry where she grew to become a wonderful chef.
Bonnie was an artist of many traits and grew a successful art business with her sister, Dianne Dalton. They would often refer to Bonnie as the mechanical artist, who would engineer very detailed and complicated artwork such as jewelry, elk hide drums, and fusion glass (etc.) and Dianne as the creative artist who would design their digital logos, bring inspiration for new projects and paint beautiful oil and watercolor paintings. Together, they traveled and sold their art work for over 30 years at variety of shows and venues from mountain man rendezvous to festivals. They later dialed in their designs selling mainly Bonnie’s handmade one-of-a-kind drums along with her glass fusion art and Dianne’s paintings and cards only at fine art festivals.
When Bonnie wasn’t on the road, or preparing for the next show she was often tending to her very large and fruitful backyard garden. She grew a large variety of vegetables but many of us remember her tomatoes very well- she was always generous at sharing the fruits of her labor. As things slowed down, and Bonnie became sick- she still tended to her garden as best she could up until last year, and continued to make glass earrings, decorative bowls, and her latest creation beautiful fusion glass clocks; all self-taught- truly a gifted human.
Bonnie had a special place in her heart for babies, little children and animals. If she could give them a treat, and get on their good side then it would truly make her happy. She was very playful and loved a good laugh. She became well known on the road and in Salt Lake for her drum making, and in her own neighborhood as a friend to many of her neighbors. She was giving of her high quality food and her art. At Christmas her gifts were always perfectly packaged with love and care, her holiday season beginning in September so she had time to get her hand made gifts completed. She was a unique, thoughtful, meticulous, wild spirited, funny and a loveable person, and she will be truly be missed by many.
Bonnie is preceded in death by her father Richard L. Whipple. She is survived by mother Mildred Whipple, and her siblings Michael, Arlyn (Debbie), Dianne Dalton, Karen Suisse (Dave), Lynda Drake (Bryan), Kent (Janele), Mark (Joni) and Gary (Cindy), and her close nieces Lisa Hill and Amber Dalton and many other nieces and nephews who she cared for greatly.
A celebration of life will be held June 5th 2021 at 12:00 p.m. at Bonnie’s mother Mildred Whipple’s home at 444 Oakley St. Salt Lake City, Utah 84116. Please contact Dianne Dalton 801-707-9506 for any questions.
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