Bonadurer USA.

Letter from Bob Bonadurer, ETornoET@aol.com · September 29, 1999 · Minneapolis Planetarium

Christian Bonadurer — great-grandfather

My great-grandfather Christian Bonadurer came from Switzerland in the late 19th century and settled in La Crosse. I believe he came from a family of eight children — seven sons and one daughter. Four of the eight emigrated together.

William Bonadurer — grandfather

Christian had one son (grandfather William Bonadurer) and three daughters. William had one son (William Jr., my father) and one daughter. I have 4 brothers and 2 sisters.

“Feel free to e-mail back — great to hear from a Bonadurer. Let me know if you know anything about the family of 8.”

Letter from Daniel Bonadurer · May 24, 2000

Christian Bonadurer — great-grandfather

My great-grandfather Christian Bonadurer settled in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he is also buried — with a German inscription on the gravestone.

Dan is the youngest of seven siblings. At 33, he lives in Montana and drives a semi-truck. Reto Bonadurer from Zurich (son of Johann, grandson of Peter, remaining Swiss line) visited him in Montana and his siblings in St. Paul and La Crosse.

“Long ago, c. 1986, pre-Internet, I located Reto in the Zurich phone book. It is from that point that I began to learn so much more about my family.”

Dan asked whether older letters between the American and Swiss branches of the family have been preserved.

Various letters to Roli, 2000–2008

Martin Bonadurer of Galena · b. 1848

My great-grandfather Martin Bonadurer came from Galena, Illinois. He and his brother Andreas (b. 1846) immigrated to the USA together in the 1870s. Where Andreas settled is unknown.

Martin was first married to an Italian woman; they had two sons. The wife and the sons died in a flu epidemic and are buried in Galena. Martin then married Carrie Dorr and had six children — my grandfather George Martin was probably the second son.

Peter Steier from Savognin — letters from the 1950s

I found letters from the nephew Peter Steier from Savognin; his mother was Agnes Bonadurer (died 1922). The Steier family was large — farmers in the area. Peter Steier contacted the Swiss Consulate in Chicago to obtain my grandfather’s address.

George Martin Bonadurer — grandfather

Grandfather George Martin Bonadurer. His last known Swiss relative was Agnes (or Anna?), who married a Stier / Steier and lived in Zillis.

“My great-grandfather Martin Bonadurer could speak four languages as well as had the ability to yodel and sing opera.”

Pat Bonadurer · La Crosse, Wisconsin

Bill Bonadurer Sr. — co-founder of the “Grandad Sky Rockers”

The Grandad Sky Rockers are a nonprofit volunteer organization for fireworks and pyrotechnic special effects in the La Crosse, Wisconsin area, founded in 1929.

Bill Bonadurer Sr. was one of the Original 10 who, in 1929 — shortly after Black Friday — each put up 10 dollars out of their own pocket to buy fireworks and establish the tradition of the New Year’s Eve fire from Grandad’s Bluff.

Pat Bonadurer, president of the organization. Contact: bonatreepat@aol.com · PO Box 2223, La Crosse, WI 54602-2223 USA.

Letter from Larry Bonadurer, lbonadurer@iglide.net · February 2001 and January 2003

George Lawrence Bonadurer · b. June 4, 1936

Lives near Lodi, California. Wife: Carol Lynn Mason (b. April 28, 1940). Daughter: Jacqueline Colette Bonadurer-Rowland (b. March 19, 1963). Son: Christopher Lawrence Bonadurer (b. October 23, 1965, lives in Chino, CA).

Father — George Henry Bonadurer · b. June 16, 1912

No siblings. Mother: Letty Magdeline Law (b. June 19, 1912). Died 1999.

Grandfather — George Martin Bonadurer · b. July 6, 1887, Chicago

One sister: Margarite Bonadurer. Father: Henry Bonadurer. Mother: Annie Kelly. — George Martin became a firefighter; he died in 1916/17 during the flu epidemic. His mother moved with him to Sacramento, CA, after his father was killed in the Chicago area during the railroad strike.

“I am living well in retirement. We have been to Europe twice but I never thought of looking for family. Maybe next time. The Bonadurer name in our family may end soon.”

Emails from John Martin Bonadurer III, bondo3@msn.com · January 2007

John Martin Bonadurer III

Son of George Fred Bonadurer (b. 1932 in Chicago).

Grandfather — John Martin Bonadurer · b. c. 1887, d. 1938, Chicago

Sister: Anastasia Bonadurer. Married to Barbara Werner (b. c. 1890 in Canada, d. 1957). Eleven children: Lena, Margaret, Barbara, Ruth, Annie, Mary Ann (died young), George, Peter, Phillip, Edward and John Martin II (killed in Normandy, World War II).

Connection to Switzerland

John was in contact with Johann Bonadurer (then 82 years old) from Zillis, Graubünden (address: Mühle, CH-7432 Zillis). Johann has unfortunately since passed away.

John asked about the Bonadurer coat of arms: a stained-glass window with the Bonadurer coat of arms could be seen on the website — he wanted to know where this window is located and what the coat of arms means.

“I look forward to seeing if the Bonadurer puzzle gets more completed.”