Bonnie Lund passed away unexpectedly on July 1, 2026, just weeks before her 88th birthday. Throughout her life, Bonnie embodied caring, service, generosity, and commitment to others. In the truest sense of the word, she was a caregiver—to her family, her patients, her church, and her community.
Born to Clarence and Mabel Borchardt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Bonnie grew up in a family deeply rooted in the Lutheran faith and committed to caring for others and improving the lives of everyone. Those values remained central to Bonnie throughout her life.
Bonnie attended Washington High School, where she excelled as a student, and later attended and graduated from Milwaukee County Hospital School of Nursing. There she met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Lund, at a dance for nursing and dental students. They married in December 1958 at Capitol Drive Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and shared an enduring devotion to one another that, for Bonnie, went beyond “till death do us part.” It was forever.
Bonnie began her career as an emergency room nurse at Milwaukee County General Hospital. When Dick’s Army service took him to Germany and later West Point, Bonnie joined him, and three of their four children were born during those years. After returning to Wisconsin, they eventually settled in Hartford, where Dick established his dental practice and their fourth child was born.
Bonnie devoted many years to raising their children and creating a warm and abundant home. There was always a garden and a balanced meal at the family table. A gifted cook, she could seemingly pickle vegetables, can tomatoes, prepare dinner, and plan the next gathering all at once, with remarkable calm. Holidays were celebrated around a full table of homemade delights, with her Stollen a special Christmas tradition.
When her children were older, Bonnie renewed her nursing license and returned to work, eventually specializing in oncology. Later, she joined Community Memorial Hospital in Menomonee Falls, where she helped establish the outpatient radiation oncology clinic.
Bonnie also served on the hospital’s ethics committee, reviewing clinical trials and advocating for patients—a commitment she continued well into retirement. After learning the story of Henrietta Lacks, she investigated her own health system’s policies and successfully advocated for informed consent for the use of patients’ tissue in research.
Service extended well beyond Bonnie’s nursing career. She was active in Common Ground through her church, and while president of the Council at Capitol Drive Lutheran Church, she helped guide the congregation through its eventual dissolution and assisted in gifting its building and assets to The Table, a community-based ecumenical organization serving the surrounding neighborhood.
Bonnie remained devoted to Washington High School throughout her life, dedicating considerable time and energy to raising funds for the remediation of its athletic field. Her efforts were recognized publicly at the dedication of the new field.
Music brought Bonnie great joy. She loved to sing and was a member of the Bach Chamber Choir, as well as a longtime member of her church choir, finding in music another source of community and connection, as well as an expression of her faith.
Across the many chapters of her life—as a wife, mother, nurse, advocate, church leader, singer, cook, gardener, and friend—Bonnie cared deeply and believed that caring should lead to action. She gave generously of herself, whether comforting patients, advocating for medical ethics, serving her community, preparing a family meal, or singing with her choir.
Bonnie is survived by her children, Jacquelyn King (Bryan King), Jeff Lund (Penny Nygaard), Jon Lund (Deborah Mulligan), and Jeanne Ward (Bobby Ward); her grandchildren, Annalise, Harrison, Jeremy, Jessica, and Isak; her great-grandchild, Killian; and her brother, Charles Borchardt. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends.
Bonnie’s playful energy, hearty laugh, twinkling eyes, and huge heart will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Her legacy lives on in her family and in the many people and communities made richer by her care, generosity, and love.
In leu of flowers, memorial gifts to support the Clinical Cancer Center can be made out to the Froedtert Hospital Foundation, https://www.froedtert.com/giving/foundation/ways-to-give or ELCA World Hunger @ https://give.elca.org.
A service of remembrance will be held at Fox Point Lutheran Church in Fox Point, WI on September 25th at 10:30 a.m. with visitation beginning at 9:30 a.m.
