Gerald “Jerry” Ernest Bonini, 84, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, formerly of Racine, WI, died at Hospice House on Saturday, June 27, 2026. He was born in Racine on October 18, 1941, the son of the late Ernest Francis and Emma Frances (nee Lucarelli) Bonini. Mr. Bonini was raised in Racine and attended Holy Trinity elementary school. He lived in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1954 to 1963 while attending De Sales Preparatory School and St. Francis Seminary, where he received his B.A. degree in Philosophy, and in Chicago, IL from 1964 to 1965 while attending Loyola University graduate school, where he was employed as teaching assistant to underclass students and from which he earned his M.A. degree in English.
On November 25, 1965, he married Carol Jean (nee Nelson) Bonini.
He was employed as an English teacher at Bradford Senior High School from 1965 to 1978, at First National Bank of Racine from 1963 to 1971, at Kenosha National Bank (later known as First Bank Southeast, and then Firstar Bank) from 1971 to 1994, and at Southport Bank from 1997 until his retirement in 2006. He began his banking career as a part-time teller and retired as Executive Vice President and Chief Operation Officer of Southport Bank.
He was a Kenosha Transit Commissioner from 1985 to 1991, and he served as co-chairman of the Shalom Center for the Interfaith Network from 2003 to 2008. He also served as Treasurer and President of the Somers Estates Condominium Owners Association from 2009 to 2015, and from 2018 until 2020. He was also proud of his membership in the Blood Center, having contributed over 100 pints of blood to those in medical need. In addition, he served numerous church, education and banking committees and commissions. His other interests included family genealogy, reading, puzzle solving, cooking and photography.
He is survived by: his wife, Carol; three children: Ann Marie (Phillip) Lambert of Fort Worth, TX, Karen (Mark) Fetherston of Racine, and Anthony Bonini (Tracy Bynum) of Kenosha. Also surviving are five grandchildren: Joseph Lambert, K’Lynn Lambert, Cassidy Lambert, Stuart Fetherston and Nathan Fetherston. Also surviving are: his sister, Theresa (Donald) Carey, brother-in-law, Paul Nelson, two sisters-in-law, Jane Norbin and Mary Ellen Goldsworthy. He Is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Ernest and Emma Bonini; his sister, Carol Bonini Neufeld and her husband, John Neufeld; his in-laws, Norman and Margaret (nee Phillips) Nelson; his brother-in-law, Jack Goldsworthy; his sister-in-law, Teresa Nelson, and his brother-in-law, Donald Norbin.
A Gathering will be held on Monday July 13, 2026, at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church (714 49th St., Kenosha) from 8:00AM to 10:00AM, followed immediately by a Mass of Christian burial at 10:00AM; private inurnment to follow.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice Alliance, 10220 Prairie Ridge Blvd., Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158, https://www/hospicealliance.org or Shalom Center, 4314 39th Ave., Kenosha, WI 53144, https://www.shalomcenter.org/donate and are greatly appreciated.