Lonnie Bird passed away

Mark Maleski

Administrator
Lonnie is well-known in our community from his books, articles, and overall influence. From his page on Facebook:

This is Lonnie Bird’s wife, Linda. In November 2022, Lonnie peacefully went to be with the Lord Jesus after a hard-fought battle against the long-term effects of cancer radiation.

I want you to know how much we appreciate your support of Lonnie’s School of Fine Woodworking throughout the 20 years we were in operation. It was his dream to share his enthusiasm, knowledge, and skills for fine woodworking – and you made that possible.

As you know, Lonnie was nationally known as a master furnituremaker with many published books and articles to his credit. He was an excellent teacher and able to duplicate his woodworking skills in those who came to his school. His woodworking career spanned 45 years and he took great joy in designing, and crafting beautiful, high-quality furniture. Lonnie was extremely talented; yet very willing to share his knowledge with others. I—and many others--always admired that about him.

What you may not know are some of the more personal details of Lonnie’s rich life: He enjoyed almost anything outdoors, including camping, traveling, bicycling, and fishing. Lonnie had a great sense of humor and was also a wonderful storyteller.

He also had excellent character and was extremely devoted to me during our 37-year marriage. Together, we built a strong marriage and raised two daughters, Rebecca and Sarah. Lonnie loved our family and treasured his time with us. Most of all, he knew Jesus Christ personally and followed Christian principles in everything he did.

Before his death, Lonnie transitioned his business and classes to Jason Bennett, his close friend and fellow woodworker of 32 years. Jason is a fabulous furniture maker and teaches in-person classes, which are listed on his website (https://www.bennettsfinewoodworking.com).

Thank you again for your support over the years. I hope you take the skills and knowledge learned from Lonnie to elevate your woodworking and carry on his legacy of excellence. He would like that.
 
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