Bonnie Gaede remembered for her kindness and commitment

EL CENTRO — The long and successful career of Valley track coach and mentor Bob Gaede would not have been possible without the support on so many levels of his wife of 58 years, Bonnie, who passed away here on Tuesday with her family by her side.

“I could never have accomplished what I did without Bonnie . ... She was a terrific help. She was very supportive of what I did and did so many things behind the scenes,” Bob said. “It takes a tremendous amount of people, all volunteers, to help with the teams and events. They are all role models for being involved in their community.”

Born in Reedley, in California’s San Joaquin Valley, Bob and Bonnie grew up across the street from each other. Following Bob’s graduation from Tabor College in Kansas, they married and settled in the Imperial Valley.

While Bob was a teacher for 35 years and coach for 48 years at Meadows Union School, Bonnie was involved in supporting his efforts there and with the IV Suns Track Club which they founded and opened to all Valley runners.

Following Bonnie’s passing, Jai Cortez on behalf of the Cortez and Salazar families from Meadows School, posted this on Facebook.

“We couldn’t have experienced what Coach Gaede showed us at Meadows without her. She was the foundation to all of our successful journeys … in cross country or track and field. Always fundraising and making sure we all had snacks and water for the trips.”

In addition to her work with her husband, Bonnie established the first licensed private daycare in the Valley in 1965, which she was involved with for 52 years.

“She provided meals for the poorer families and literally adopted those children,” said daughter Marilyn Wiens. “If the parents had to work overnight, their children would literally live with us, … The whole reason for her daycare and other activities was to be an example to everyone of her faith in Christ.”

Former IV Sun and Central Spartan runner Fernando Lemus, who will be graduating from UC Riverside this spring, recounted all that the Gaedes had done and meant to him.

“I ran for Coach Gaede from 8 to 18 years old, and for me and a lot of other people their home was our home,” Lemus said. “I remember little things like her making us sandwiches for our meets, and that she always made sure that we were living right, on the straight and narrow.”

Lemus is currently an assistant track coach at Central, following in the Gaedes’ example.

“In my life, they are on the top of the list of who I want to follow,” Lemus said.

Brawley High track coach Marciel Tagaban ran for Bob Gaede as a youth but came to appreciate Bonnie as an adult.

“Bonnie taught me how to reach out to kids, and when I helped Bob with the IV Suns I saw her doing the behind-the-scenes things like the fundraising and logistics for the team and supporting runners from mainly broken homes both physically and spiritually,” Tagaban said.

A celebration of Bonnie’s life will be held Feb. 24 at 4 p.m. at Christ Community Church in El Centro.