John ‘Pete’ Edward Bonebright

Date of Death: November 3, 2025

Service Details

His family will receive friends Tuesday, November 11, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St., Three Rivers. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with Pastor James Smith officiating. He will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery at a later date.

Obituary Notice

John “Pete” Edward Bonebright

John passed away peacefully at Birch Meadows Senior Care on November 3, 2025 with family present.

John “Pete” was born on February 19, 1933 to Jacob and Frances (Lucas) Bonebright in Three Rivers. He attended Huss elementary school and graduated from TRHS in 1951. He enlisted in the US Army and served from 1952-1954. Pete maintained lifelong friendships with many of his high school buddies here in Three Rivers including Dennis Black, Dick Harden, and Darwin Buckhold.

Pete married Carole Kline Atkinson on August 20, 1970, and celebrated over fifty five years with her by his side. They enjoyed traveling, home projects and spending time with friends and family. They were known to their neighbors as “the couple who kept their yard always looking impeccable.”

Pete worked for Peterson Springs and later the Johnson Corp (Kadant) where he was a tool and die maker and shop manager before retiring in 1988 after over 30 years of successful employment. Pete enjoyed a variety of hobbies over the years including woodworking, target practice, fishing, golfing, snowmobiling, spending time in Pentwater, MI, Friday night poker group, corvettes and motorcycle riding. He could fix anything and enjoyed rehabbing mobile homes with his close friend Jim Bauer when he and Carole were in Pentwater.

Pete was a life member of the BPOE and St. John’s Lutheran Church. He was also a Mason and a Shriner. He often drove children to the Shriner’s hospital in Chicago so they could receive necessary care. Pete served on the Three Rivers City Commission and was active in the Jaycees and the JoCo club.

When Pete was asked what he was most proud of in his life he replied that he was proud of his career at the Johnson Corp, his marriage to Carole, and his children.

Pete is survived by his wife along with four children, Karen (Scott) Soule, Kevin Bonebright, Susan Forbes and Rhonda (Rick) Lull. Grandchildren, David Chapin, Kristen (Jonathon) McHenry, Madison Lull (Brandon Burke) and Lezlie Lull (Jonathan Sackett), and sister-in-law, Phyllis Bonebright.

Those who have passed before Pete include his parents, in laws Warren and Dorothy Kline, and brother Jack Bonebright.

The family would like to express their appreciation for the care and compassion that the staff at Birch Meadows and Centrica Hospice gave to Pete at home as well as at the center.

Additional Information

Memorials can be made in his name to Shriners Children’s Hospital or the Three Rivers BPOE for their parking lot project.

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