Bonnie Joyce Holzer, a 56-year resident of Lathrop, passed on March 21, following declining health due to Alzheimer’s. Born January 9, 1942, she was 79 years old, a beloved wife, a loving mother and an adored grandmother. She was also a great friend and neighbor.
Her husband of nearly 60 years, William J. Holzer, passed June 23, 2019. Bonnie will be holding his urn in her casket. She was also predeceased by her parents, Norman and Florence Mercer of Eastport, Long Island, NY and her brother, Charles Mercer of East Moriches, Long Island, NY.
Her dad, a commercial fisherman, took pride in the fact that Bonnie was the first girl born in the Mercer lineage in several decades. But life wasn’t without its hardships. While attending school one day, Bonnie fell and broke her hip while playing crack the whip. At age 13, she became the youngest person at that time to undergo hip replacement surgery. She would need additional hip replacements later in life, but they rarely slowed her down for long. While recovering from her initial surgery, Bonnie kept up with her lessons, eventually returning to the classroom. A few years later, she landed a job as a telephone switchboard operator. And her beauty was confirmed when she was named Miss Beacon Mills in Eastport.
Bonnie was out with a friend, when she met and soon started dating William (Bill), stationed at Suffolk County Air Force Base in nearby Westhampton Beach, Long Island, NY. Following high school graduation in 1959, and a full summer of working and dating, they were engaged. Two weeks after Bonnie’s 18th birthday, they were married January 23, 1960 at the Air Base. Later, the newlyweds packed up their car, including a Pekingese named Cleo (Bill’s Valentine’s Day gift to Bonnie) — for the cross-country trip to Bill’s hometown of Waterford, CA. There was always a dog in their life, the last being Mollie. Once her husband secured a full-time job in 1965 at Libbey Owens Ford in Lathrop, the couple purchased a new home nearby for themselves and the first two of their four sons. Fraternal twins would come later.
Bonnie worked at the Tracy Defense Depot, and, later, John Serpa’s Arco AM/PM at Interstate 5 and Louise Avenue. Both she and Bill enjoyed attending school and sporting events, including T-Ball, Little League and soccer games featuring their children and grandchildren. They traveled to Cooperstown, NY, to watch a grandson play baseball. Bonnie’s other hobbies included square dancing, riding her motorcycle, bowling, reading, finding great deals at thrift shops and spending time with family and friends.
Her survivors include four sons and their wives, Leo N. and Susan of Vallejo, Jason and Traci, Bret and Leah and Bart and Michelle, all of Lathrop. Bonnie is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Zach, Jared, Stephanie, Kimberly, Raymond, Matthew, Nicholas, Bryson. Bryana, Bryttney, and Mika.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Good Friday, April 2. A chapel service will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a graveside service at noon. All three will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home in Hughson. The chapel and graveside services will be live-streamed at https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodFuneral/
People are encouraged to make a donation in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California at alz.org or one of two local charities,
San Joaquin County’s Mary Graham Children’s Foundation by calling
(209) 468-7635, or Manteca’s Cpl. Charles O. Palmer II Memorial Troop Support Program by visiting www.cplpalmertroopsupport.com and clicking the donate tab.
Her husband of nearly 60 years, William J. Holzer, passed June 23, 2019. Bonnie will be holding his urn in her casket. She was also predeceased by her parents, Norman and Florence Mercer of Eastport, Long Island, NY and her brother, Charles Mercer of East Moriches, Long Island, NY.
Her dad, a commercial fisherman, took pride in the fact that Bonnie was the first girl born in the Mercer lineage in several decades. But life wasn’t without its hardships. While attending school one day, Bonnie fell and broke her hip while playing crack the whip. At age 13, she became the youngest person at that time to undergo hip replacement surgery. She would need additional hip replacements later in life, but they rarely slowed her down for long. While recovering from her initial surgery, Bonnie kept up with her lessons, eventually returning to the classroom. A few years later, she landed a job as a telephone switchboard operator. And her beauty was confirmed when she was named Miss Beacon Mills in Eastport.
Bonnie was out with a friend, when she met and soon started dating William (Bill), stationed at Suffolk County Air Force Base in nearby Westhampton Beach, Long Island, NY. Following high school graduation in 1959, and a full summer of working and dating, they were engaged. Two weeks after Bonnie’s 18th birthday, they were married January 23, 1960 at the Air Base. Later, the newlyweds packed up their car, including a Pekingese named Cleo (Bill’s Valentine’s Day gift to Bonnie) — for the cross-country trip to Bill’s hometown of Waterford, CA. There was always a dog in their life, the last being Mollie. Once her husband secured a full-time job in 1965 at Libbey Owens Ford in Lathrop, the couple purchased a new home nearby for themselves and the first two of their four sons. Fraternal twins would come later.
Bonnie worked at the Tracy Defense Depot, and, later, John Serpa’s Arco AM/PM at Interstate 5 and Louise Avenue. Both she and Bill enjoyed attending school and sporting events, including T-Ball, Little League and soccer games featuring their children and grandchildren. They traveled to Cooperstown, NY, to watch a grandson play baseball. Bonnie’s other hobbies included square dancing, riding her motorcycle, bowling, reading, finding great deals at thrift shops and spending time with family and friends.
Her survivors include four sons and their wives, Leo N. and Susan of Vallejo, Jason and Traci, Bret and Leah and Bart and Michelle, all of Lathrop. Bonnie is also survived by 11 grandchildren, Zach, Jared, Stephanie, Kimberly, Raymond, Matthew, Nicholas, Bryson. Bryana, Bryttney, and Mika.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Good Friday, April 2. A chapel service will begin at 11 a.m., followed by a graveside service at noon. All three will be held at Lakewood Funeral Home in Hughson. The chapel and graveside services will be live-streamed at https://www.facebook.com/LakewoodFuneral/
People are encouraged to make a donation in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northern California at alz.org or one of two local charities,
San Joaquin County’s Mary Graham Children’s Foundation by calling
(209) 468-7635, or Manteca’s Cpl. Charles O. Palmer II Memorial Troop Support Program by visiting www.cplpalmertroopsupport.com and clicking the donate tab.
Lathrop
Manteca (Calif.) Bullretin
Saturday, March 27, 2021
