James Boniface (1959-2020)

BONIFACE, ROENBERG

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 11/30/2020 at 17:22:10

James "Jim" Boniface, 61, of Cedar Rapids passed away on Friday November 27th 2020. A private visitation will be held Tuesday, December 1st at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Please sign up for visitation times using the link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d45aaaa29a4fdc61-jimboniface . Note: No more than 10 visitors at a time, masks required, please practice safe distancing.

A private family service will be held on Wednesday, December 2nd at Our Savior's Lutheran Church. For those wishing to attend virtually, please follow this link to the service's live stream, which can be viewed at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday December 2nd. This is located on Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/crsaviors/live_videos/.

Jim was born on September 25th, 1959; the son of Mark and Marcia Boniface in Queens, New York. After living in New York and New Jersey, he and his family moved to Palm Coast, Florida where he graduated from Flagler Beach High School in 1977. After graduation he enlisted in the Army, served two years active duty and then moved to Colorado where he served as Military Police in the Colorado National Guard. He met Sonnie Rosenberg in 1984 in Boulder, Colorado and the two went on to marry and start a family before moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa to raise their three daughters. In Cedar Rapids he continued his military career as well as owning and operating ABC Store, a popular corner convenience store and gas station.

After serving in Desert Storm in 1991, Jim fell ill will Desert Storm Syndrome, rendering him quadriplegic. With the care and tireless advocacy of his wife, Sonnie, he went on the live an unprecedented 29 years. Throughout the second half of his life, he continued to light up any room with his infectious smile and incredible love for living. He loved rock music, classic cars, particularly his 1971 GTO, and cherished being able to watch his daughters grow into young women and start careers and families of their own. He was never shy about his family being the driving force in defying many odds.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his treasured in-laws John and Barbara Rosenberg, and his niece Tara Caldwell Hintz.

Left to treasure his memory are his wife, Sonnie, daughters Aubrie (Wyatt) Boniface- Snodgrass, Morgan (Jake) Bryant, and Sarah Boniface, grandchildren Bodhi Boniface, Penelope and Maisie Snodgrass, siblings Jeanne (Keith) Gentry, Robert (Helen) Boniface, in- laws Gretchen (Scott) Crossen, Karlan Rosenberg, Karl (Julie) Rosenberg, and many nieces, nephews, family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family has set up a GoFundMe page with all the proceeds going directly to the DAV, Disabled American Veterans. http://gf.me/u/zand82