Deloris P. Bohnsack

Deloris Bohnsack, 90, passed away at her home in Des Moines Iowa on May 25, 2020. She was surrounded by her loving family. Deloris was born November 12, 1929 in Williston, North Dakota, to Margueritte (Tofsland) and Daniel Payne.

Growing up, Deloris loved to read and spent much of her time daydreaming as she read. She liked to play jump rope and delighted in dancing. As children, Deloris and her sister, Jeannette, took turns playing Shirley Temple and Judy Garland and calling each other on their pink and blue Princess phones. These sisterly phone calls continued for over 80 years. The sisters were very protective of their little brother, Elmer, and defended him from the neighborhood girls.

While still a student at East High School, Deloris decided she wanted to be a singer. She took singing lessons and auditioned at KRNT Theater for a chance to join Horace Knight and his Musical Knights. However, she was unable to travel with the group due to her young age. She graduated from East in June, 1948.

Shortly after high school, Deloris began her career at Northwestern Bell Telephone Company as an operator. She married Richard Kile, on September 9, 1949, a Private in the United States Army. Richard fought in the Korean Conflict and was killed the following July. On October 30, 1950, Deloris married LeRoy Bohnsack. The couple eagerly welcomed their son, Michael in 1952, and 17 years later in May of 1969, daughter, Angela was a delightful surprise.

The family had many vacations, and could often be found on their boat, “Big Mike,” at Leach Lake in Minnesota. They enjoyed the community and relaxing with their best friends. Fishing was a favorite activity.

Eventually, Lee needed a new project, so they opened “The Hole in the Wall,” a bar near E. 14th and Grand. Deloris enjoyed serving their customers and substantially increased her colorful vocabulary.

Meanwhile, Deloris also continued working her way up at Northwestern Bell and became an engineering clerk. She designed cables, mapped their placement, and assisted the engineers with innumerable projects. She retired from the phone company after decades of dedicated service. While at the phone company, Deloris also worked for many years part-time in sales at House of Large Sizes. Not being content to sit at home after her retirement, she secured a job working through Meredith Corporation and then Neodata to promote sales of Gevalia Coffee over the phone. She thoroughly enjoyed working in this position and frequently spoke to several celebrities who were her customers.

As her family, we are so blessed to have been able to hold on to our beloved mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and great-aunt for so long. We shall deeply miss her beautiful smile, her unending wisdom, and her thoughtful presence.

Deloris is survived by her daughter, Angela McGuire (Joe Johnson); honorary daughters, Dawn Lias and Denise Williams; grandchildren, Guinnivere Bohnsack (Robert Waddell), Nathan, Lydia, and Amelia McGuire, and great-grandson, Forrest Waddell; brother, L. Elmer Payne, several much-loved nieces and nephews, and great nieces and nephews; and her cat, Gracie Lou. Deloris was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Richard Kile and LeRoy Bohnsack; son, Michael Bohnsack; daughter-in-law, Deborah Bohnsack; sister, Jeannette Heintz: and her beloved cat, Sophie Tucker.

Services will be held Wednesday, June 3, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at Hamilton’s on Westown Parkway in West Des Moines.

A special thank you to Suncrest Home Health and Hospice for the last several years of their service to Mom, to Dr. Leatrice Olson for her decades of care, and to Melissa Stoll, Brian Edwards, and Denise Williams for their assistance to the family.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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