Bonita "Bonnie" Helen (Kane) Zeilinger

Bonita “Bonnie” Helen (Kane) Zeilinger passed away peacefully on May 12, 2025, surrounded by her loving family, at the age of 87. While our hearts are heavy with her passing, we rejoice in knowing she has been welcomed into the arms of God—a homecoming filled with love, peace, and the everlasting comfort of her deep faith.

Born on May 28, 1937, in Plum City, Wisconsin, Bonnie was the cherished middle daughter of Myron and Anna Kane. She attended St. John the Baptist Elementary School and graduated from Plum City High School in 1955. After high school, she moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, where she began her career as a secretary.

On May 4, 1957, Bonnie married the love of her life, James Zeilinger, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Plum City. Together, they built a life centered on faith, hard work, and unconditional love. They were blessed with five children: Michael (Beth) Zeilinger; Sheila Rucker†; Steven (Valeri) Zeilinger; Marsha (Todd) Eichinger; and Annie (Sedny) Attia.

Bonnie was a woman of quiet strength and deep devotion. While raising her children, she worked many jobs including over 25 years of factory assembly at H.D. Hudson Manufacturing. Her steady hands and tireless work ethic were a reflection of the selfless love she poured into every role she held—as a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a faithful servant of God.

She found joy in life’s simplest gifts: planting flowers in her garden, sewing dresses for her daughters, and preparing her famous peanut butter bars, lovingly known as “Bonnie’s Bars”, a treat everyone looked forward to. Her faith was the constant rhythm of her life, and she was deeply devoted to daily prayer, especially the Rosary. Her kindness was quiet, her generosity abundant, and her presence a comforting light to all who knew her.

More than anything, Bonnie showed up—for church services, family gatherings, and quiet conversations around the kitchen table. If it was important to her family, it was important to her. She loved deeply and without condition. We’ll miss her hugs, her sweet laugh, and the way she always said “love yous” when we left—always plural, because her love stretched far and wide.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, four children, and their families, including eleven grandchildren, one step-granddaughter, and fifteen great-grandchildren. Her grandchildren; Crystal (Paul) Smiskol, Megan Zeilinger, Nathan (Chelsea) Zeilinger, Ashley (Dennis) L’Heureux, Bre (Tanner) Miller, Nicole (Ryan) Barnhart, Zach (Crystal Gaughan) Zeilinger, Calvin (Kristina) Eichinger, Derrick (Bella Barron) Eichinger, Katie Attia (step-granddaughter), Ava Attia and Giovanna Attia. Her beloved great-grandchildren; Dylan, Ian, Kaylan, Stella, Harlow, Jay, Hank, Hudson, Winnie, Huxley, Kensley, Hadley, Isaac, Monroe, and Zoey - each one held in the center of her heart and part of her beautiful legacy of love; along with many very special nieces and nephews, she was known as “Sweet Aunt Bonnie”.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Sheila, her parents Myron and Anna Kane, her sisters Shirley Meacham and her husband Cliff Meacham, Myrna Raethke and her husband Glen Raethke, her half-brother Edward Knight and his wife Naoma, and her half-sister Lucille Hacker and her husband Jack, and brother-in-law Thomas Zeilinger.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at St. Thomas Aquinas, 920 Holley Ave.; St. Paul Park, MN with a visitation from 9:30 to 11 AM prior to the service. All are invited to a luncheon following the service at Tinucci’s 396 – 21st Street; Newport, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. Thomas Aquinas Church in memory of Bonnie. 

Bonnie’s life was a steady gift to all who knew her. She leaves behind a legacy of grace, humility, and faith—a life well lived, and a love that will never fade. As we say goodbye, we hold close the promise of Matthew 25:23: “Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

We love YOUS forever.