1943
Bonnie
2015
Bonnie Peterson
September 9, 1943 — April 8, 2015
Bonnie Lou Peterson, PhD passed away on April 8, 2015 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Her family was with her when she passed. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 PM and visitation at 2 PM, Sunday, April 12, 2015 at First Presbyterian Church, 2415 Clinton Parkway, Lawrence, KS.
Bonnie Lou was born in Chillicothe, MO on September 9, 1943 to John Leslie and Lucille A (Hyke) Bashor. Her family moved to Kansas City in 1945 when her father was discharged from the US Navy.
Bonnie attended Knott's Elementary School. She graduated from Southeast High School in 1961. She completed her BSN at University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1965.
Dr. Peterson began her nursing career as a pediatric nurse at St. Mary's hospital and then at Children's Mercy Hospital (CMH), Kansas City, MO. She also taught Maternal Child and Pediatrics at Avila College where she introduced the first student clinical experience to nursing students at CMH. While Bonnie was working at CMH as a Nurse Clinician in the Pediatric Fail to Thrive Clinic, she began working on her MSN at KU School of Nursing, receiving her degree in 1979.
In 1980, Dr. Peterson accepted a position as Vice President/Director of Nursing at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Hannibal, MO, a Sisters of St. Mary's Hospital. In 1985, Bonnie accepted a position as Vice President/ Director of Nursing at Children's Mercy Hospital, subsequently promoted to Sr. Vice President of Patient Care Services. While at CMH, she was part of the team that planned a new wing of the hospital and the Kaleidoscope theme for the hospital. She was involved the opening of the CMH South clinics in Overland Park that evolved in an inpatient facility; the participation of CMH in the Research Eagle Air Ambulance; in co-operation of St. Luke's Hospital the establishment of an Neonatal ICU at St. Luke's; and many other innovative hospital services.
Dr. Peterson served as Vice President of Patient Care Services at Trinity Lutheran Hospital and Rehab Center in Kansas City, MO; Vice President of Patient Care Services at The Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI.
In 1998, Dr. Peterson accepted the position of Vice President/Chief Operating Officer at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, KS. During her tenure at LMH, the hospital started a Wound Healing Center with Hyperbaric treatment; a hospital based Oncology Center; a Woman's Center at LMH South; participated in the design of the new Emergency Department and many other projects at LMH. Bonnie also enjoyed mentoring her fellow employees and encouraging their professional growth.
In 2004, Bonnie retired from LMH. She began her pursuit of attaining a PhD degree at the University of Kansas, a long time goal. Bonnie received her PhD in teaching and curriculum with a minor in Nursing from the University of Kansas on May 12, 2012. Dr. Peterson then returned to her first love, teaching nursing students. Bonnie taught Leadership, Ethics and graduate level Clinical Nurse Leadership at Washburn University, Topeka, KS from 2007 until retiring in July 2014.
After nine years of friendship, Bonnie married Oscar Peter Peterson, Jr on May 11, 1985, in Hannibal, MO. They were married nearly thirty beautiful years. They enjoyed traveling together and spending time with family and friends. They took a final cruise to the Caribbean in February 2015.
Bonnie is survived by her husband, a daughter Marcie Lynn (Steven) Costello, Whidbey Island, WA.; four sons, Matthew L. (Claudia) Ainsworth, Kansas City, MO, Michael R. Ainsworth, Shawnee, KS, Oscar P. (Lisa) Peterson III, Kansas City, MO and Douglas A. (Robbie) Peterson, Phoenix, AZ; nine grandchildren, Lucia, Rain, Hugo Costello, Liam and Will Ainsworth, Joshua Peterson, Stuart and Derrick Fields and James (Erin) FidIer and great grandchildren , Brandon Fields, Xander and Aaralyn Fidler.
Dr. Peterson's family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the LMH Oncology Center, at the LMH Wound Healing Center, the nursing staff at LMH 3 West and the staff at the KU Cancer Center.
The family also wants to thank Dr. Matthew Stein, LMH, and Dr. Gary Doolittle, KU Cancer Center for their superb medical care and their deep caring for Bonnie during her struggles with the disease.
The family would suggest contributions to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Center in memory of Dr. Bonnie Lou Peterson.
Bonnie will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
Bonnie Lou was born in Chillicothe, MO on September 9, 1943 to John Leslie and Lucille A (Hyke) Bashor. Her family moved to Kansas City in 1945 when her father was discharged from the US Navy.
Bonnie attended Knott's Elementary School. She graduated from Southeast High School in 1961. She completed her BSN at University of Kansas School of Nursing in 1965.
Dr. Peterson began her nursing career as a pediatric nurse at St. Mary's hospital and then at Children's Mercy Hospital (CMH), Kansas City, MO. She also taught Maternal Child and Pediatrics at Avila College where she introduced the first student clinical experience to nursing students at CMH. While Bonnie was working at CMH as a Nurse Clinician in the Pediatric Fail to Thrive Clinic, she began working on her MSN at KU School of Nursing, receiving her degree in 1979.
In 1980, Dr. Peterson accepted a position as Vice President/Director of Nursing at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Hannibal, MO, a Sisters of St. Mary's Hospital. In 1985, Bonnie accepted a position as Vice President/ Director of Nursing at Children's Mercy Hospital, subsequently promoted to Sr. Vice President of Patient Care Services. While at CMH, she was part of the team that planned a new wing of the hospital and the Kaleidoscope theme for the hospital. She was involved the opening of the CMH South clinics in Overland Park that evolved in an inpatient facility; the participation of CMH in the Research Eagle Air Ambulance; in co-operation of St. Luke's Hospital the establishment of an Neonatal ICU at St. Luke's; and many other innovative hospital services.
Dr. Peterson served as Vice President of Patient Care Services at Trinity Lutheran Hospital and Rehab Center in Kansas City, MO; Vice President of Patient Care Services at The Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI.
In 1998, Dr. Peterson accepted the position of Vice President/Chief Operating Officer at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Lawrence, KS. During her tenure at LMH, the hospital started a Wound Healing Center with Hyperbaric treatment; a hospital based Oncology Center; a Woman's Center at LMH South; participated in the design of the new Emergency Department and many other projects at LMH. Bonnie also enjoyed mentoring her fellow employees and encouraging their professional growth.
In 2004, Bonnie retired from LMH. She began her pursuit of attaining a PhD degree at the University of Kansas, a long time goal. Bonnie received her PhD in teaching and curriculum with a minor in Nursing from the University of Kansas on May 12, 2012. Dr. Peterson then returned to her first love, teaching nursing students. Bonnie taught Leadership, Ethics and graduate level Clinical Nurse Leadership at Washburn University, Topeka, KS from 2007 until retiring in July 2014.
After nine years of friendship, Bonnie married Oscar Peter Peterson, Jr on May 11, 1985, in Hannibal, MO. They were married nearly thirty beautiful years. They enjoyed traveling together and spending time with family and friends. They took a final cruise to the Caribbean in February 2015.
Bonnie is survived by her husband, a daughter Marcie Lynn (Steven) Costello, Whidbey Island, WA.; four sons, Matthew L. (Claudia) Ainsworth, Kansas City, MO, Michael R. Ainsworth, Shawnee, KS, Oscar P. (Lisa) Peterson III, Kansas City, MO and Douglas A. (Robbie) Peterson, Phoenix, AZ; nine grandchildren, Lucia, Rain, Hugo Costello, Liam and Will Ainsworth, Joshua Peterson, Stuart and Derrick Fields and James (Erin) FidIer and great grandchildren , Brandon Fields, Xander and Aaralyn Fidler.
Dr. Peterson's family would like to thank the wonderful staff at the LMH Oncology Center, at the LMH Wound Healing Center, the nursing staff at LMH 3 West and the staff at the KU Cancer Center.
The family also wants to thank Dr. Matthew Stein, LMH, and Dr. Gary Doolittle, KU Cancer Center for their superb medical care and their deep caring for Bonnie during her struggles with the disease.
The family would suggest contributions to the Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Center in memory of Dr. Bonnie Lou Peterson.
Bonnie will be greatly missed by her family and friends.
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