Margie Jessie (Kuhl) Bonta

January 21, 1930 - February 28, 2017

Margie Jessie (Kuhl) Bonta, age 87 of Exeter, Nebraska, died on February 28th, 2017 in Lincoln, NE at Bryan LGH West Medical Center. She was born on January 21, 1930 in Sholes, Nebraska to Genevieve and Isidor Kuhl. Margie was baptized and confirmed at St. Francis de Chantal Catholic Church in Randolph, NE. She attended grade school and high school in Randolph and graduated from Wayne State Teacher’s College and taught school for a short time. Margie had five siblings: Donald Kuhl, Randolph, Nebraska, Jackie (Kuhl) Volk, Belvidere, Illinois, John Kuhl, Harvard, Illinois, Joanne (Kuhl) Ver Bockel, Appleton, Wisconsin and Ruth (Kuhl) Carstens, Randolph, NE. On September 23, 1948 Margie married William A. Bonta. They made their first home in Alexandria, NE where Al began his career in the printing industry, and they started their family. They eventually moved to Exeter, NE and bought a newspaper business, the Fillmore County News. Al was the Publisher and Margie was the Editor in Chief for 40 years. Margie also wrote her own column under the name Copperknob. Margie achieved her Geriatric Aide certificate and Certified Nursing Assistant certificate from Southeast Community College and worked part time at the nursing home in Exeter. She volunteered at Blue Valley and was on the Fillmore County Election Board committee for many years. Margie was also very active in her church, Saint Stephen’s Catholic Church in Exeter, where she was a member of the Altar Society, the church circle, and participated in many church related functions. Margie had many hobbies that included: gardening, canning, baking, reading, riding her bike, and taking care of her cat, Spunky. Margie’s greatest joys in her life were devotion to God, spending time with her family, grandchildren, great grandchildren and being married to the love of her life for 47 years. They had 10 children together and resided in Exeter, Nebraska throughout their retirement. Margie is survived by nine of her ten children: Douglas and Chris Bonta of Cave Creek, AZ, Barbara Bonta, Clifton, NJ, Dr. Chris and Cynthia (Bonta) Sill, Rochester, MN, Dr. Charles and Janice (Bonta) Hoffer, Algonquin, IL, Thomas Bonta, Laurie (Bonta) Noltimier, Peachtree City, GA, Dr. Mary (Bonta) Ritzdorf Ed.D., Omaha, NE, William and Alisa Bonta, Stillwater, MN, Son-in law Daniel Billerbeck (Michele Bonta), and John S. Bonta, M.D., Lincoln, NE; sisters Jackie (Kuhl) Volk, Rockford, Illinois, Jack and Joanne (Kuhl) Ver Bockel, Appleton,Wisconsin, Dean and Ruth (Kuhl) Carstens, Randolph, Nebraska, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Margie is also survived by her lifelong friend, Kathleen Selig, of Fairbury, Nebraska. Margie was preceded in death by her husband, William A. Bonta, her youngest daughter, Michele “Shelly” Rose (Bonta) Billerbeck, her parents Isidor and Genevieve Kuhl, brothers and sisters-in-law, Donald and Vayle Kuhl, and John and Imelda Kuhl. Funeral Mass for Margie will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2017, at the St. Stephen's Catholic Church in Exeter, Nebraska with Father Steve Thomlison officiating. Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Catholic Church Rosary will be Sunday Evening at 7:00 p.m. at St. Stephen's Catholic Church Burial will be follow the Funeral Mass at the Exeter Cemetery. Memorials are directed to the St. Stephen's Catholic Church, Exeter, Nebraska