Gail Lynn (Bonin) Wendtland, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, lost her 32 year battle with cancer on Friday, June 8, 2018. Through this whole journey, she always had a positive outlook on life and always looked forward to what the next day was going to bring. Born on August 11, 1959 to Joseph and Irene (Kropidlowski) Bonin in Schnappsville.
She attended the Catholic School in Poniatowski until it’s closing. She then attended the Athens Public Schools and graduated in 1977. During her high school years, she helped her parents at their business, the Bonin Locker Plant and Store.
It was during this time she met her husband, Gary, who would stop in the store to buy macaroon cookies and Sun Drop. Their relationship bloomed in 1975, and on September 1, 1979 they were married. They were blessed with two wonderful sons, Derek (Crystal) and Bradley (Sandra), both of Edgar, who blessed them with five wonderful grandchildren, Damion, Dakota, Madilyn, Spencer and Elliana.
She wore several different hats in her years. After graduating, she started working at Wausau Insurance Company. After Bradley was born, she took a little time off and then started working at Terry Ness Chevrolet in Edgar.
Then it was on to Wilson Hurd and finally Forward Enterprises. All of the opportunities involved some sort of office or accounting work, so it wasn’t surprising that when Gary started his own trucking company she did the paperwork, and did so right up until her final days. In 2004, she went to Sun Prairie Truck Driving School and got her CDL so she could go trucking with Gary, which they did happily for five years, with 100,000 miles in the driver’s seat and 44 states under her belt.
She then started driving the Pilot Car and escorting oversize loads for Gary and other companies. They were able to spend time together on and off the road. Doing things for others, including making hats and scarves for the Cancer Center and family and crocheting many afghans for her grandchildren were her favorite, along with anything she could do for her grandchildren and with them.
The best time she had was letting them color on her bald head after losing her hair for the third time. Gary and Gail would look forward to everyday they had, but never forgot to look back on all the time they had together and fun they had with family and friends along the way. Besides her husband, children and grandchildren, Gail is survived by one brother, Joseph Bonin, Athens; one sister, Patti (David) Berndt, Merrill and their children, Meranda and Devan.
She is also survived by many other friends and family. Gail also leaves behind her precious pets, Harlee, Snoball and Milo. Waiting with open arms on the other side for her are her parents, Joseph and Irene Bonin; her in-laws, Clarence “Yogi” and Darlene Wendtland; nephews, Mike and Rich Wendtland; and many aunts, uncles and friends.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at St. John Lutheran Church-High Steeple, town of Wien (Edgar). Rev. Jeffrey A. Lambrecht will officiate.
Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Edgar and again on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until time of services at the church. There will be a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.
The family would like to thank the staff at Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services for the wonderful care given to Gail and the staff and friends at Aspirus Cancer Center for the many years of support through all of this. From day one, if it wasn’t for you she wouldn’t have been given this many years with us. Memorials may be directed to Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.
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