Please join us for a Celebration of Paul’s Life on Sunday, June 7th from 1-5pm at Everett McClay VFW Post 1296 located at 311 West 84th St, Bloomington, MN 55420

Paul Arthur Bonneson, age 83, passed away peacefully on April 12, 2026, after a brief illness.

Paul was born on March 26, 1943, in Richfield, Minnesota, to Arthur and Dorothy Bonneson. He graduated from Bloomington High School in 1961 and went on to serve his country in the United States Army, receiving an honorable discharge in 1967.

In 1968, fate stepped in when Paul met the love of his life, Lynn, after her car broke down and he—working at a local garage—came to her rescue and subsequently asked her for a date. They were married just four months later and went on to share 58 wonderful years together.

Paul had a passion for the outdoors and knew early on that he wanted a career that kept him active and outside. In his younger years, he explored studying computers at Dunwoody Institute, but ultimately followed the path that suited his spirit best. He dedicated 42 years of service to the City of Bloomington before retiring in 2011. Never one to stay idle, he spent his retirement giving back to his community through volunteer work with Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP).

Paul spent countless summers traveling with Lynn and their camper, exploring destinations across the country as well as staying closer to home to camp with beloved life-long friends and family. He also enjoyed many years of bowling and was humbly proud of achieving a near-perfect 299 game, earning a special ring for his accomplishment. When he wasn’t camping or bowling, he could be found boating on their infamous bright green boat, playing cribbage, working in the yard, or tinkering around in the garage, sipping on a cold beer and listening to a very wide variety of music. A softer side of Paul, in a never ending effort to defend Lynn’s garden from the local chipmunks, he would humanely trap these cute critters and take them for a little ride to the MN River bottoms, where they were released and allowed to live out their lives far away from Lynn’s vegetables.

Paul will be remembered for his humbleness, kindness, work ethic, and the deep devotion he held for his family and friends. Though he could be seen as a quiet and stoic man, his generosity and compassion spoke volumes. He had a huge heart and showed his love through his actions more than his words. He cherished time spent with those closest to him and created lasting memories that will be carried on for generations.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Lynn; his daughter, Stacy Dombrosky; his son, Jeff Bonneson (Kat); his 7 grandchildren, Taylor (Matt), Ashley, David, and Anastasia, Jackson, Aida and Mason; and his great-grandchildren, James and Avery, as well as his sisters’ Sharon (Donn) and Deb (Bruce), sister-in-law Celeste (Roger), brother-in-law Mark and niece Lindsay (Mike) and their daughters Paisley and Dawsyn. Niece Christine (David) their daughter Miriam, and son Jacob (Tess) their daughter Freya and nephew JT.

A private burial with military honors will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery on June 9th.

He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to the Humane Society of MN https://www.animalhumanesocie… or Wounded Warriors https://www.woundedwarriorpro… which are both organizations that were close to Paul’s heart.  

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