Msgr. Bonnell, retired diocesan priest, dies

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Monsignor Victor George Bonnell

June 19, 1928 ~ February 23, 2018

Cleveland, Ohio native and longtime priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City Monsignor Victor G. Bonnell died on February 23, 2018 at Jenning’s Catholic Nursing Home, Garfield Heights, Ohio, after a long illness. Following his Utah retirement on June 19, 2011, he returned to Cleveland to be closer to family members. While there he continued to do weekend ministry at various parishes.

He was born June 19, 1928 in Cleveland to Michael A. Bonnell and Bertha Levandusky Bonnell.  

He attended Saint Philomena Grade School and Cathedral Latin High School in Cleveland, and received his undergraduate degree from John Carroll University. He served in the Army from 1951-1953 in Hawaii, Korea and Oklahoma. After receiving a master’s degree in American history at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., he entered Saint Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, Md. for the study of theology.

Following his ordination as a priest for the Diocese of Salt Lake City on May 28, 1960 in the Cathedral of Saint John the Evangelist in Cleveland, Ohio, then-Fr. Bonnell traveled to Salt Lake City, where he began his ministry as assistant pastor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, where he served from 1960 to 1966, and oversaw construction of the new elementary school. He then served in eastern Utah as pastor of Saint James the Greater Parish in Vernal from 1966 to 1971 and at Saint Mary Parish in Park City from 1971 to 1972.

In 1972 he was named founding pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Parish in West Valley City, where he oversaw fundraising and construction of the new rectory and parish center. Following that, he served from 1983 to 1988 as chaplain at the Utah State Prison, Salt Lake County Jail and two youth correctional institutions, where he confirmed his reputation as an exemplary priest who provided outstanding pastoral care.

In 1989 Msgr. Bonnell accepted the difficult task of replacing the Paulist Fathers at Saint Rose of Lima Parish in Layton. There he relocated the parish plant at a new site and began construction of the facilities. He served there for more than 22 years, during which time he raised millions of dollars to build a modern church complex with its education center.

During this time Msgr. Bonnell also served as Northern Utah Dean, Diocesan Consultor, on the Priest’s Personnel Board and other committees. He was active in ecumenical affairs.

He served as the spiritual director of the Legion of Mary Curia and Chaplain of the Swords.

In 2001, Msgr. Bonnell was a named Prelate of Honor by Pope John Paul II, in recognition of his outstanding service to the Catholic Church. Msgr. Bonnell was also a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus.

Msgr. Bonnell was a person of integrity who lived by the high standards he expected of others. He was well-read, worked hard, and focused on serving the diverse pastoral needs of his parishioners. Few of his contemporaries had the financial expertise or talent for construction that were his special gifts.

At his Golden Jubilee celebration as a priest in 2010, family and friends spoke of their love for him. They knew Msgr. Bonnell as a faithful priest who could change with the times yet always observed the traditions of the Catholic faith. They knew him to be generous, humorous, hardworking and compassionate. His commitment to the priesthood was his life.

He is survived by family members he dearly loved.

A funeral Mass was celebrated on March 1, 2018 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Macedonia, Ohio, where Msgr. Bonnell helped out in retirement. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery, where other Bonnell family members are buried.

 May the resurrection Msgr. Bonnell preached be his. May he rest in peace.