Grappling With Tragedy: Frank Bonnema

Brian Damage

Grappling with Tragedy is a series of articles that deal with unfortunate, tragic incidents that have occurred throughout the history of professional wrestling. It is unlike the ‘Wrestling with Sin’ series that deals more with the seedier side of wrestling like arrests, murders and suicides. Grappling looks more at particular tragic incidents that have in some instances altered pro wrestling in some way.

Frank Bonnema

Franklin ‘Frank’ Bonnema was born in Merrill, Iowa in 1932, and was a graduate of San Diego State College. He also attended the Don Martin School of Radio and Television in Hollywood, California. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving time in the Korean War. Prior to his work in television, Bonnema worked as an emcee for various non wrestling events and as a radio disc jockey in places like Tacoma, Washington and San Diego, California. In 1964, Bonnema was hired as the staff announcer and host of the afternoon movie for channel 12 KPTV in Portland, Oregon. He eventually was made lead sports anchor for their news program. It was there where Bonnema fine tuned his announcing skills for what was coming.

In February of 1967, Pacific Northwest wrestling announcer Harry Elliott announced his retirement and Bonnema was hired for the gig soon after. Bonnema’s dead pan, down the middle announcing became a favorite for the wrestlers and fans alike. He treated the wrestling action he was calling like a sporting event. Bonnema took it seriously and his announcing came off that way on television. He had no catchphrases for himself and called the matches down the middle, not favoring faces over heels or vice versa. Frank Bonnema was called “The Voice of Portland Wrestling” by promoter Don Owen. For 15 years, Bonnema called all the matches and interviewed all the matches by himself.

Frank Bonnema called his final Pacific Northwest show on September 18, 1982. He mentioned on the show that he had some tests done and personally thanked the hospital and doctors for their hard work and professionalism. That week after the broadcast, Bonnema suffered a heart attack. He remained in the hospital for the next couple of weeks, with reports that he was getting better and would return to the announce desk for Pacific Northwest Wrestling. Tragically, on October 5, 1982…Bonnema passed away after suffering from cardiac arrest. His replacement Don Coss and popular Portland wrestler Dutch Savage announced his death to fans on the following broadcast.

Don Owen said after Bonnema’s death…“He did a remarkable job. He was ‘old shoe’, and didn’t push himself out front all the time. He was calm and cool and followed the action through the matches.” Roddy Piper stated, “Portland Wrestling was NEVER the same after Frank’s death on Oct. 5, 1982. His style was perfect for the show…he got excited when it was called for, no matter if it was for heels or faces.” Don Owen would hold an annual Frank Bonnema Memorial card in his honor.

Frank Bonnema was survived by his wife, his son, his daughter, four stepchildren and three grandchildren. His family requested that in lieu of flowers, make a donation to the Oregon Heart Foundation. Frank Bonnema was just 49 years old at the time of his death.

To read other Grappling with Tragedy articles, please click here.