Davalee Bohnenkamp

Davalee Bohnenkamp died peacefully after an extended battle with dementia on November 8, 2017, at Parc Provence in Creve Coeur, MO.  She was 91.

Davalee was born in Flat River, MO on December 5, 1925 to Sylvia and James Robert, Sr. Pettus.  She graduated Desloge high school, attended Mineral Area College, and married Marvin H. Bohnenkamp, DDS, with whom she had five children.

Davalee dedicated her life to her children and to various human rights issues.  She spent countless hours donating her time to her church and community, was a social work volunteer for troubled teens, and traveled to the nation’s capital championing equal rights and promoting peace.  Davalee had a passion for literacy and the arts, was instrumental in securing Missouri’s first optometry school and was a long-time supporter of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra and Washington University.

Davalee is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Marvin and Kim Bohnenkamp of Farmington, MO; her son and daughter-in-law, Ken and Pam Bohnenkamp of Creve Coeur, MO; her daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Erik Tilman of Arlington, WA; her son and daughter-in-law Scott Bohnenkamp and Carol Colautti of Merrickville, Ontario; her daughter and son-in-law Tracy and Bob Fulling of Indianapolis, IN.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a younger brother, Wallace Pettus of Fredricktown, MO; and her beloved cats Puddy-Tat and Tinkerbell.  She is preceded in death by her husband, Marvin; her parents; her sister, Helen Ruth Blackwell; and her brother, James Robert Pettus, Jr.

The family would like to send a very special thank you to her many care-givers for their efforts, care and dedication that allowed her to be home as long as possible.  They would also like to thank the staff at Parc Provence and Preferred Hospice for their care and understanding during her final few weeks.

A visitation is scheduled for Saturday, November 25, 2017 at First United Methodist Church in Park Hills, MO from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. with the funeral service immediately following.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church at 401 Taylor Ave., Park Hills, MO  63601, and to the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org. 

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