Eloyious I. Bonikowske Obituary

April 14, 1933 — January 23, 2026

Eloyious I. Bonikowske, age 92, of Manawa, went to her heavenly home on Friday, January 23, 2026. She was born on April 14, 1933, in Town of Union, to Ervin and Sadie (Fahser) Schoen. Eloyious married Robert (Bob) Bonikowske on June 23, 1951. They owned and worked hard on the farm in Ogdensburg until 1987, when they moved to Manawa. They celebrated 70 years of marriage together before his death in 2021.

She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Manawa. Besides farming, she loved gardening and cooking, where she helped out at Stormin Norman's in Big Falls, Conroy's at Bear Lake and the Manawa Nursing Home. She helped run the Waupaca County Farm Bureau stand for years and also the rodeo grounds. She enjoyed traveling with friends and especially spending time with them at the Hodag.

Eloyious is survived by her children: Peggy (Terry) Gollnow, Todd (Pam) Bonikowske and Mark (Betty, Fiancé) Bonikowske; grandchildren: Brandon (Julie) Gollnow, Christina (Adam) Smith, Chad (Ashley) Bonikowske, Dan (Dana) Bonikowske, Darci (Matt) VandenHeuvel, Chayne (Velinda) Bonikowske, April Bonikowske, Erica (Daniel) Dobberfuhl; great-grandchildren: Weston, Mason, Sawyer, Waylon, Bentley, Colton, Nash, Aubrey, Caiden, Peighton, Breanna, Taelyn, Jayla, Ryker, Rylee, Easton, Chaylyn, Scarlet, Zayne, Holdyn, Evelyn, and Deklyn; also many nieces and nephews.

Besides her husband, Bob, Eloyious was preceded in death by her parents, an infant daughter in 1953, her sister, Carolyn Rineck, and daughter- in-law, Sheila Bonikowske.

The funeral service for Eloyious will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Manawa with Rev. Nathan Reichle officiating. Family and friends are invited to gather directly at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the time of service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family. The immediate family would like to extend a special thank you to Trinity Terrace, Compassus Hospice, and St. Joseph's Nursing Home, along with family, friends and neighbors.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eloyious I. Bonikowske, please visit Dahlke's flower store.