Dr. Robert Bonefeld

SARASOTA, FLORIDA — Escanaba native Dr. Robert Bonefeld of Northport, Florida died at Sarasota Memorial Hospital in Sarasota, Florida on February 21, 2026 after a long battle with myelogenous leukemia. Dr. Bonefeld was born at St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba on November 25, 1951. He spent his childhood growing up in Escanaba and attended the Escanaba Schools and graduated from Escanaba High School in 1970. He then attended Michigan State University, graduating with a BS degree in Biochemistry in 1974. After serving as a Graduate Research Assistant for several years at MSU, he received his medical degree in 1980.

Dr. Bonefeld then completed a two year residency in Emergency Medicine at St. Francis Hospital in Peoria, Illinois.

After finishing his residency he relocated to the Tampa Bay area where he lived and practiced Emergency Medicine for the rest of his career.

Dr. Bonefeld is survived by his wife, Tuyen Pham Bonefeld of Northport, Florida and two daughters, Mandy Pham Bonefeld of Juneau, Alaska and Kate Pham Bonefeld of Orlando, Florida. He is also survived by his brother Dr. George Bonefeld (Linda) of Tiffin, Iowa and nephew Matt Bonefeld and niece Laura Miller of North Liberty, Iowa. He was preceeded in death by his parents George and Jeanne Bonefeld and his younger sister Barbara Bonefeld.

While growing up in Escanaba, Dr. Bonefeld worked his way through school as a furniture deliveryman at his family’s furniture business, which his grandfather founded in 1922 and the family ran for 52 years. He enjoyed motorcycling in the woods of the UP and sailing his Ericson sailboat both on Lake Michigan and later in the Gulf of Mexico. He also enjoyed staying at the family cottage in Ford River.