Bonnie Mae Goldblatt (Finberg)

October 24, 1928 - November 12, 2021

Bonnie Mae Goldblatt (Finberg) passed away on 11/12/21 at the age of 93 due to natural causes. Bonnie was born in St. Paul, MN, and grew up in Chicago, IL, during the depression. As a young child, when her parents lost their money in the stock market crash and needed to work, Bonnie was often left on her own, so her grandmother and aunts took her in. She studied art in college and worked as an illustrator and copywriter. In her twenties, she moved to Minneapolis and was set up on a blind date with her future husband, Lester. She fell in love with his sense of humor and they raised five children together, filling their lives with fun, adventure and laughter. Bonnie was a beautiful and generous person, giving many gifts even to those attending her own birthday. She had many friends with whom she socialized and played cards. She loved going to the Guthrie Theater, the orchestra, and museums. Walking the lakes was her favorite pastime. She once walked twenty miles from Minneapolis to St. Paul, taking it on as a personal challenge. She was always a progressive thinker, open to new ideas and the changing world around her. She constantly read books and kept up with current events. She loved her kids and loved being a mom. She taught them creativity, kindness and empathy. She was always supportive and encouraging. There were family trips in a trailer to national parks, air shows, and a world’s fair. Bonnie was an artist, creating many award-winning abstract paintings, full of vibrant colors and dancing figures. She listened to music while she painted at home and in her classes at Minnetonka Arts Center, which helped her reach an unconscious level of expression. Her art extended into creative writing as well as the parties she would throw, once painting every guest’s portrait on cookies. Bonnie lost her husband of 67 years a month before she passed, leaving her with a broken heart. They with their arms wrapped around each other to the very end. Theirs was a true love story. Bonnie is survived by her children: Daniel (wife Kris Paul), Robert, Terri, Jon and Kim; grandchildren Carly, Emma, Ethan, Andrew, Kelsey, Alison, John Paul (Angelika), Matt Paul, great-grandchild Alden, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Park Foundation (give.nationalparks.org) or to the charity of your choice. A private memorial will be held on November 14, 2021 at 1:30 p.m. Others invited to attend by Zoom. Email [email protected] for the link.