Obituary of Ann Jane Bonnell

Ann Jane Bonnell (nee Krummes), born on January 18, 1938 in Albuquerque, NM, died of heart failure at age 85 on December 26th, 2023. She passed peacefully in the company of friends, family, and a flock of birds noisily enjoying the feeder located just outside her window.

 

Capitalizing on skills learned from her Pi Phi Sorority sisters and from teaching high school biology, Ann lived her life as a force of nature, purposefully directing her passion for the environment into leading, teaching, and advocating for safety, inclusivity, and many conservation causes including endangered species, bird diversity, land conservation, and water quality. 

 

Ann was a volunteer Water Safety Instructor and she helped teach persons with disabilities how to swim and cross-country ski. Ann was the fearless leader of the Tuesday Birders for over 40 years. Ann started volunteering at Roxborough State Park in 1983 and was hired as the weekend Visitor Center Supervisor in 1987 where she delighted park visitors with her knowledge of birds, wildflowers, and ecology. Ann served as a Board member for Plan Jeffco and Denver Audubon for many years, advocating for local conservation, providing technical advice, writing educational articles, and leading annual holiday bird counts. 

 

Ann loved adventure and she loved to share outdoor experiences with others as a guided trip leader. She summited Mount Rainier, ran the Colorado River through Grand Canyon several times, snorkeled the Galapagos, birded Costa Rica, kayaked the Niobrara River, and dived the coral reefs of Belize. 

 

Ann was pre-deceased by her husband of over 50 years John L. (Jack) Bonnell, who passed in May 2016.  Ann is survived by her son, John William Bonnell, his wife, Sarah Benson, and their two sons Max and Jacob; her daughter, Mary Ann Bonnell and her nephew, William Robertson Krummes, his wife, Brigitte Krummes, and their daughter, Lucia. 

 

A Celebration of Ann’s Life will be held at the Crown Hill Pavilion of Reflection, 7777 W. 29th Ave. Lakewood, CO, on Friday, April 5th at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to EarthJustice, Denver Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, or the Denver Field Ornithologists are appreciated.