Ishpeming, MI - Bonnie Lea Kimball, age 87, longtime Ishpeming resident, passed away on Monday, August 5, 2024, at the Eastwood Nursing Center in Negaunee where she had resided since April and prior to that was a resident at Brookridge Heights Assisted Living.

Bonnie was born in Laurium, Michigan on January 20, 1937, a daughter of the late Phyllis Catherine (Ziehr) and Matthew Albert Brulla. She attended the Sacred Heart School during grade and middle school and was a 1954 graduate of Calumet High School. Bonnie worked as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone in her younger years. In 1958 Bonnie married the late James Kimball at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Calumet.

Bonnie and Jim  moved to Ishpeming in 1959 and resided here since. Bonnie loved to travel and can be remembered for being the navigator while Jim did the driving, hauling the family camper. Bonnie always had a map spread out over her lap with a bag of state maps available at her feet. She was also the self-appointed coffee and snack director for each trip. Planning trips for her children and then grandchildren were major projects she took pride in.

Bonnie often told anyone that would listen about how she was born during a horrible snowstorm and of her memories of crossing the Mackinac Straits on a ferry boat before the bridge was built. Bonnie was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she was active in the Women's Guild. She volunteered and served with the Bell Hospital Auxiliary for many years.

Bonnie is  survived by a daughter, Pam (Jeff) Johnson of Negaunee; 2 grandchildren, Maryann Johnson (James Maki), Natalie (Adam) Alderman, great grandchild, Abigail Alderman, sisters-in-laws, Janet and Dorothy Brulla, brother-in-law Paul Kimball, son-in-law James (Lisa) Hartman, along with numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband, James Kimball on Jan 10, 2014, daughter Lynn Hartman, brothers, Gary and Jim Brulla, brother-in-law Clyde Kimball and sister-in-law Marie Hebert.

The family will greet relatives and friends from 11:00am – 12:00pm on Monday, August 12, 2024, at the Bjork and Zhulkie Funeral Home where funeral services will follow at 12:00pm with the Rev. Fr. Christian Flagstadt officiating. Interment will take place at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Marquette.

Bonnie's family wishes to extend a special Thank You to the Staff Members at Brookridge Heights and the Eastwood Nursing Center for their loving compassion and care.

Bonnie's obituary may also be viewed at bjorkandzhulkie.com where relatives and friends may leave a note of remembrance.