Erma Bonham

Beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Erma Lee Bonham, 95, of Barrington passed away on Tuesday, January 24, 2017. She was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1921 to Clarence and Susie (nee Capper) Young.

Erma was a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Cedar Rapids and in 1943 she earned a nursing degree from Mount Mercy University, Cedar Rapids. She served as a Cadet Army Nurse during World War II and later worked in several hospitals in the Chicago area.

Erma married James Edward Bonham, a Navy World War II veteran, an entrepreneur and plastics engineer in 1948. Their first home was in Mt. Prospect and they moved to Barrington in 1966. They were long time residents of the community and raised two daughters there — Barbara and Betsy.

Erma was a homemaker, a talented and prolific seamstress, a quilter and an artist. She was involved in Campfire Girls, Girl Scouts, Meals With Wheels and St Matthew’s Church outreach program. She loved tennis, golf, bowling and travel.

She will be remembered with love by family and friends for her warmth, kindness and her sweet, welcoming smile.

Erma is survived by daughters, Barbara (Marc Charles) Munder of Lake Bluff and Betsy (Trevor) Lewis of Winnetka; grandchildren, Lauren Lee (Kevin) O’Flaherty, Adam Marc (Jackie) Munder, James Maxwell (Carly) Munder, Madyn Elizabeth Lewis, Emily Ruth Lewis, Taft Edward Lewis and Lane Elizabeth Lewis; great grandchildren, Paige Michelle O’Flaherty, Owen Ryan O’Flaherty, Marlowe Jane Munder and Evelyn Lea Munder.

She is preceded by her parents; James, her husband of 65 years; and her sister, Margaret Ruth Loewen.

Funeral Service will be held Saturday, January 28th, at 11 a.m. at the Winnetka Congregational Church, 725 Pine St., Winnetka, IL Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. in the church. Interment will be held privately at Evergreen Cemetery, Barrington.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Salvation Army will be appreciated.