Frederick L. Bonde (aka Eldon Lee Henke), 74, of rural Elkhart Lake, passed away peacefully on the

morning of Thursday, July 18, 2024, surrounded by his loving wife and children. Born on October 13,

1949, in Hartford, WI, he was the son of the late Mae Henke and Earl Schultz. He was raised by Fritz

and Katie Bonde. While he faced a complex childhood, he most trusted three of his brothers, Mel

Henke and Evie Henke, as well as Eddie Ebenhoe--who was more than just a best friend--he was like a

natural-born brother.

Fred graduated with the class of 1967 from Valders High School. On July 15, 1972, he married his true

love, Kathleen Hibbard at St. Isidore Catholic Church in Osman. After briefly attending UW-Oshkosh,

Fred first worked at Tecumseh Products in New Holstein. He then spent 23 years dairy farming in the

Pigeon Lake area, during which time he earned many agricultural awards. After retiring from farming,

he worked at Branch Cheese and Milk Products in Chilton until his retirement in 2011.

Fred had a life-long love for cars, especially Ford Mustangs, and took great pride in maintaining his red

Mustang GT convertible and, at times, seeing how fast it could go. A nature lover at heart, he

possessed an extensive knowledge of plants and trees, identifying most from memory and recently

reminding his family to use their apps to identify them after he was gone. He was always a voracious

reader who enjoyed gardening and bird watching, diligently guarding his feathered friends against

troublesome squirrels.

Fred had a deep passion for First Nations history, culture, and traditions, and was a proud supporter of

the St. Labre Indian School in Ashland, Montana. Above all else, he cherished time with his family,

especially attending his grandchildren's events, sharing stories, and encouraging them to do their best.

He was most proud of the family he created.

He is survived by his loving wife, Kathi; his children, Tanya (Doug) Lulloff of Elkhart Lake and Lee

Bonde (Traci Schnell) of Kiel; and his grandchildren, Nadia and Zander Lulloff. His closest extended

family includes brother Evie Henke, sister-in-law Carole Henke and best friend Lynn Ebenhoe, along

with numerous brothers, sisters, in-laws, other relatives, and friends. He wished to acknowledge his

recently discovered brother and sister, Royce and Joyce. Fred was preceded in death by his parents; his

brothers, Mel Henke, Roy Henke and Eddie Ebenhoe; his sister-in-law, Nancy; and his brother-in-law,

Harry Hibbard, along with other brothers, sisters, and in-laws. Of special note, his mother-in-law

Dorothy Hibbard, who was most like a mother to him.

As with everything, Fred did things his own way. Per his wishes, cremation has taken place and private

family services were held. In lieu of flowers, please plant a tree in his memory or make a donation to

the St. Labre Indian School . Fred's family would like to thank the Elkhart Lake First Responders and

EMTs. They wish to express their gratitude to family, friends, and neighbors for their many visits and

heartfelt concern, as well as to Aurora Hospice at Home for ensuring his comfort in his final days.