Bonnie Ward

Bonnie Jean Keiser was born in Denver, Colorado to Robert and Doreen Keiser on October 16, 1947.  Her faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ assures us that He prepared a place for her with Him, prior to her passing on March 10, 2022, at the age of 74. Her earthly remains will be interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery. A service will be held there on March 24, 2022, 2:15pm, please meet at Staging Area C no later than 2:00pm.  All are welcome to join us there.  In lieu of flowers, we would kindly ask that instead, you might consider a donation in her name to Compassion International, your church, or the charity that you feel is most deserving.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Jack Ward; her two children, Lisa and Tim; her brother Robert (Bob); their families, including several grandchildren and great grandchildren; and a wonderful array of extended family and friends.

The Gospel of John (21:25) concludes with, “Jesus did many other things as well.  If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.”  Similarly, this is not the time, nor place, for a novel, let alone a library, containing the life and works of Bonnie Jean Ward, however; for those interested, and/or those who may reminisce on some shared memories, here are just a few highlights:

Within all the highlights, though, the overarching theme is/was “home.”  Bonnie Jean grew up in South Denver, in a loving home on South University Blvd. with her mother and father and younger brother Bob.  Bonnie and Bob got into plenty of mischief as most kids do, but maybe even more so, since both parents worked.  There were fishing and camping trips, they went skiing almost every winter weekend as kids.  The love within that home paved the way for her later years, as she shared that same kind of love in her home, and in the homes she would visit.  Every Christmas, their parents would take Bonnie and Bob around town to visit relatives and friends in their homes.  She learned from those times and evidenced by the hospitality that she has shared with so many.

She and Bob spent several summers at their grandparents’ farm near Peetz, Colorado.  A strapping young man lived on a nearby ranch and worked at that farm.  It didn’t take too long before Bonnie and Jack Ward became an item.  From the summer of ’62 on, the two of them were together.  They married in September 1965.  Jack did a couple of tours in Vietnam, and aside from those few years, home may have moved, but the two of them were together wherever home was at the time.

Some of those early years were spent in Texas.  After Jack left the military, the two of them came back to Colorado.  A trailer in Golden, house on Raritan, a trailer in Aurora, then eventually on to other parts of Aurora-houses on Norfolk and Nucla…but they weren’t houses, they were homes.  Lisa was born a few years after they returned to Colorado.  Tim was born a couple years later.

As the kids grew, and left the nest, home moved to Littleton, so she could be closer to the kids and grandkids.  And, when she wasn’t at home, she was usually with those kids and grandchildren.  Whether in Littleton with Lisa, or Fairplay, Eagle, or Fruita with Tim, or Enid, Oklahoma with Bob, everywhere she went felt more like home when she was there.

There are many, many memories.  Pizza and ice cream at Bonnie Brae.  A movie/first date in Sydney, NE.  Drive-in movies.  Getting candy on the way to church.  The trampoline that she jumped on as a kid, that then became Lisa and Tim’s, and eventually worked its way to Enid, OK.  Babies…and diapers.  The Organ Grinder.  Camping and fishing.  Grandbabies…and diapers.  Sleepovers with Nana.  Spoiling those grand babies for Christmas.  JumpStreet.  Thanksgiving.  Ceramics.  Quilting and sewing.  Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.  K-Love and Christmas carols.  Precious Moments.  Bonnie.  Magoo.  Charley.  Ma.  Nana.  So many memories.  Too many memories.

Apologies for the lack of proper credit, but someone said, “If you believe in Heaven, you can’t help but be happy when someone you love gets to go there.”  We are happy.  We are tremendously sad, and will miss her greatly, but we are happy.  Bonnie Ward reached out with that tremendous faith of hers throughout her life towards Jesus.  From the beauty and grace of her youth to the wisdom and even greater grace of her later years, she was always seeking Him.  But now, it is Him who has reached out to her, and has fully embraced her in those loving arms that stretch as far as the east is from the west.  She is home.

Please leave memories and condolences for Bonnie by signing the tribute wall.