Ed W. Bonn

Ed W. Bonn, of Denison, Texas, passed away on Oct. 5, 2009. He was born on Nov. 13, 1925.

Born and raised in Alton, Ill., Ed first came to Texas to attend Texas A&M to study Fisheries Science. He graduated in 1943 and immediately entered WWII as a Naval Gunfire Officer in the Pacific.

He participated in combat landings with the U.S. Marines on Guam, Pala

u and was in the initial occupying force in Japan. He met the true love of his life, Ensign Paula Milkovich (U.S. Navy Nurse Corps) at the Great Lakes Naval Station Officer’s Club.

After the war and they soon married and moved to Texas, where they lived for over 63 years.

He loved his adopted state and became a very proud Texan. He opened the first laboratory for what later became the Texas Parks & Wildlife department on the shores of Lake Texoma and his area covered the entire northern third of the state. Later the architect of the Texas striped bass program, he retired after 35 years and began his own fisheries consulting business.

He remained active in Boy Scouts, 4-H, Campfire Girls and other outdoor activities. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, rancher and gardener. As a devoted naturalist, he truly loved the great outdoors. Another of his favorite pastimes was cooking wild game and other exotic creations and entertaining at home.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Paula Bonn, of Denison; daughter, Mary Ruth and husband, Keith Taylor, grandson Zach and wife, Holly Taylor and their children, Julia and Ben, and grandson Patrick Taylor, all of Colorado Springs, Colo.; son, Tom and wife, Sally Bonn, of Lockhart, granddaughter Dr. Mary K. Bonn and grandson, Thomas E. Bonn, both of Chicago, and grandson James Bonn, of College Station; and son, John and wife, Robin Bonn and grandsons Hunter and William Bonn, all of Houston. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Katherine Burgoyne, of New Hope, Minn., and Dardanella Pollock, of Jefferson City, Mo., as well as numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Ed loved all of his family and friends and was a devoted husband, father and a willing mentor to many. We will miss him dearly.

Funeral mass was held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, 2009 with Father Stephen J. Mocio officiating. Interment followed at the Fairview Cemetery.
Arrangements under the care and direction of Fisher Funeral Home, Denison, Texas.