Louie Bonan Obituary

The family of Louie A. Bonan will receive visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 18, at Ertel Memorial Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 20, at St. Columba Catholic Church in Durango. Inturnment will take place at Greenmount Cemetery.

Louie was born May 27, 1919, in Riverside, N.M. the son of Alexander and Teresa (Noletti) Bonan. The longtime Cortez resident passed away at his home on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, at the age of 93.

Louie grew up in the Durango and Silverton communities. He served his country from 1941-1945 in the United States Army as a Medic. In 1946, Louie married Leonilda E. "Lorraine" Piccoli at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Durango. Louie and his brother, Aldo owned and operated Vita-Kist Bakery in Cortez from 1946 to 1986. Their baked goods were beyond compare and to this day are still remembered fondly. Louie was a charter member of the Cortez Elks Lodge and was also a member of Lions Club. In his free time, Louie enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Surviving Louie are his loving wife of 66 years, Lorraine Bonan of Cortez; and his daughter, Kolleen Howard and husband Michael of Atlanta, Ga. Louie also leaves behind two grandchildren, Derek and Bruce; several great-grandchildren; his siblings, Alice Delay of Polson, Mont., Bruno Micheli and wife Georgie of Durango, and Benny Micheli of El Cajon, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Louie was preceded in death by his parents; by his siblings, Aldo Bonan and Polly Bodo; by his sister-in-law, Dodie Bonan; and by his brother-in-law, Louis Bodo.

Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome.com and click on the obituary section.