John Bonefas

It is with sad hearts, we announce that John Bonefas died early Sunday morning, February 22, 2026, from cancer diagnosed only five days earlier.  John was born in Independence, Iowa on September 28, 1939. 

He was raised on a farm, and attended school in Jesup, Iowa, graduating from high school in 1957. John attended university at Iowa State and graduated from South Dakota State University in 1962 where he met his wife to-be, Susan. They were married in 1963 and moved to Arizona in 1964, planning to stay only “three to four years”! 

John was employed by the Safford School District for 29 years, in several positions of responsibility. Daughters Brenda and Julie completed their family.

John was predeceased by his parents Burton John Bonefas & Rose Amfahr Bonefas, two brothers—Larry & Jerry, brother-in-law Paul, sister-in-law Jolene, and his daughter, Brenda.

John is survived by his wife Susan, his daughter, Julie, son-in-law Freddy Rodriguez, son-in-law Joe Hawkins, four beautiful granddaughters: Morgan, Misty, Macyn, and MaKenna, and five great-grandchildren: Anisa, Hannah, Khloe, Mattie, and MaKayla, and eight siblings: Rosemary, Karen, Kay, Connie, Linda, Betty, Butch, and Diane.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 21, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at the David M. Player Center for the Arts at Safford High School. A reception will be held in the Safford High School cafeteria following the Celebration of Life. Due to technical difficulties, the Celebration of Life will not be live streamed. The recording will be available at 1 p.m. (MST) on the Safford Bulldog News Network YouTube channel. (In YouTube, search for SBNN).

In honor of John’s love of all things SHS, please join us in wearing Bulldog blue to the service. Memorials in John’s honor can be made to the Safford High School Scholarship Foundation, 734 W 11th Street, Safford, AZ 85546. On the memo line of the check, please note "John Bonefas Scholarship."