MARION, Iowa — Sister Bonita (Bonnie) Lucy Lentz, RSM, a former educator, died July 19 at HallMar Village. She was 83.
Sister Lentz was born on June 20, 1942 in Elma, Iowa, the daughter of Charles N. Lentz and Gertrude (Freidhof) Lentz. She entered the Sisters of Mercy in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1960. She received her Bachelor of Arts in elementary education in 1971 from Mount Mercy College-Cedar Rapids, Iowa. In Iowa, she taught at St. Joseph School-Marion; St. Patrick School-Anamosa; St. Nicholas School-Evansdale; St. Joseph School-DeWitt; Sacred Heart School-Waterloo and St. Pius School-Cedar Rapids.
Sister Lentz retired in 2004 due to health issues but that did not deter her from being involved in the community. She continued in active service as a volunteer at Mercy Medical Center-Cedar Rapids in the gift shop as well as visiting the residents at HallMar. In spite of her illness, she maintained a smile and a positive attitude; she even went into clowning as a way of spreading happiness to anyone she met.
She moved to Sacred Heart Life Center in Cedar Rapids in 2004 and then to HallMar Village in 2023.
Her funeral was held July 25 at the Chris and Suzy DeWolf Innovation Center-Marion. Burial followed at Mt. Calvary Cemetery-Cedar Rapids.
Memorials may be sent to the Sisters of Mercy, 1125 Prairie Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 52402
