Bonnie R Kielwasser, 63, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2024, at Duke Hospital with her family at her side.

She was born on December 31, 1960 in Skokie, Illinois, to George and Karen Kielwasser.

She is survived by her two sons, Evan and Dane Kottiel, her mother, Karen (Ludwig) Kielwasser, her sister, Kiersten (Kielwasser) Withrow (Danny) and her brother’s, David (Alice) Kielwasser and Paul Kielwasser and many nieces and nephews.

Bonnie graduated from Kendall School of Design in 1983 with an Associates of Fine Arts Degree. She started her own business and was a sought after freelance furniture designer whose designs were incorporated worldwide. She started as a designer of Master Bedroom and Dining room furniture, then expanded into Youth furniture, with her most recent products for Kids & Teens. She received the Pinnacle Award in 2004 in the Youth Category and the Disney Product of the Year Award in 2005 for the Princess Carriage Bed.

Bonnie’s presence was immense and heartfelt, filled with compassion and empathy. Bonnie will be remembered for the immense amount of love and kindness she shared with everyone and everything. Her daily goals were filled with purpose in an effort to be fit, improve her health, and to be a better person. She will be remembered through her son’s, into whom she poured her heart and soul; for her bright hair and perfectly painted nails, her crazy doggies and eclectic style, her adoration for “bamp bamp” music and of course her obsession with pickleball! Her love of the outdoors was her guiding strength and release. She always wanted to stay out on the beach long enough to soak up every ounce of sunlight.

To know Bonnie was to know someone whose heart was big enough and deep enough for everyone. Her life was devoted to helping everyone she could and being a voice for those who had none. She had a pure energy and the ability to be there for anyone in need. Her sons will tell you that she gave the best mom advice that could be given.

She will be remembered for many things - the love of design and all things unique and creative; the love of birds, rivers, plants, and flowers; her morning coffee(s) out of her extra large, white coffee cups; and for her pure determination. Her light was so bright and will never dull, as she shared it with us all. Her presence is truly irreplaceable. She touched the lives of many and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

A private family event will be held this week with a funeral service to celebrate her life at a future date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to her GoFundme: https://gofund.me/4a107879