Bonnie May Schroeder

Bonnie May Schroeder (née Guinn) died in early January 2026 in Salt Lake County. Bonnie was born in November 1961 in Dallas, Texas, where she grew up in the Oak Cliff neighborhood.

Bonnie developed a love of music at an early age. She learned how to play the piano and then progressed to her great musical love and calling in life: the oboe. She was a member of the Dallas School District’s Talented and Gifted program, a hybrid school schedule that allowed her to focus on music. Bonnie graduated as Salutatorian from Kimball High School in Dallas and went to further her musical studies at Brigham Young University on scholarship. She graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in Oboe Performance and then obtained a master’s degree in the same field from the University of Texas. She continued her academic career in a doctoral program at the University of North Texas.

Bonnie was dedicated to being a full-time musician, as well as a teacher and mentor to hundreds of oboe students. She played in numerous orchestras across Texas prior to moving to Utah in 2000. In Utah she found (and fulfilled) her calling as principal oboist of the Orchestra at Temple Square for 25 years. Bonnie toured with this orchestra and the Tabernacle Choir, playing at some of the most prestigious venues in the country and the world. Bonnie could regularly be seen on the television program Music & the Spoken Word. She played for almost every Tabernacle Choir Christmas concert during her tenure, accompanying world-famous performers.

Bonnie married David Schroeder in 1996. They met at an LDS singles ward in Dallas, and were engaged after a short courtship. They were sealed in the Dallas, Texas LDS temple. They were devoted to each other and their daughter Helen. Outside of music, Bonnie loved to travel, especially with her family. David’s work in business and the military enabled them to start traveling extensively shortly after their honeymoon. Within a couple of months of getting married they had already been to Rome, Paris, London, Singapore, and Hong Kong. They later had regular extensive travels across Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Alaska, and Hawaii. Bonnie loved to go scuba diving and David and Helen also got certified so they could dive as a family whenever possible.

Bonnie loved to plan vacations to learn more about different cultures, histories, and the lives of the historical musical figures she so adored. She happily accompanied David by visiting military museums and historical sites, while he was happy to accompany her in visiting the homes and museums of great composers. Bonnie enjoyed volunteering with Pet Partners (a therapy animal program) with the family dog, Shadow. Together they helped youths in the Utah Juvenile Court. Bonnie also dabbled in stand-up comedy, once winning the Tabernacle Choir talent contest.

Her parties were legendary, especially for special occasions such as David’s retirement, and Helen’s West Point and law school graduations. She loved football. David could impress his friends by telling them that he could watch any number of games per week with Bonnie as a willing participant. Bonnie was an avid fan of the Dallas Cowboys, her earliest memories being of watching their games as a child with her beloved Grandfather. She stuck with the team through thick and thin. Once, after a playoff game lost in the last seconds by the quarterback bobbling the snap for a field goal that could have won the game, Bonnie was so upset that she locked

herself in the bathroom for more than two hours. For the past couple of decades, it has been tough for her as a Cowboys fan, and it would be fitting if the owner could be a pallbearer in order to let her down one last time.

Before passing, Bonnie had the comfort of David and Helen by her side, and her musician friends visiting and playing for her in her hospital room. David and Helen would like to thank all of those involved in Bonnie’s treatment, for their care and efforts on Bonnie’s behalf.

Funeral services for Bonnie will be on Saturday, January 17th, at the LDS Chapel at 2130 East 10000 South in Sandy, Utah. Visitation will be from 10am to Noon, with the services commencing at Noon. Bonnie asked that children under 8 be in a separate room in the church during the services so as to not potentially disrupt the musical performances in the chapel. For the same reason, those in attendance will also be asked to refrain from talking in the chapel. Bonnie will be interred at the South Morgan Cemetery following the services.