Rita A. Bonert

BONERT, HANDFELT, HARGRAFEN

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 12/4/2014 at 20:51:45

Telegraph Herald (Dubuque, IA) - Saturday, January 22, 2011

HOPKINTON, Iowa - Rita A. Bonert, 90, of Cascade, formerly of Hopkinton, died Thursday Jan. 20, 2011, at Shady Rest Care Center, Cascade, surrounded by her family.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Jan. 24, at St. Paul's Catholic Church, Worthington, with the Rev. Robert Gross officiating and Deacon Fred Pins assisting. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 23, at Kramer Funeral Home, Dyersville, where the St. Paul Altar and Rosary Society will recite a rosary at 2 p.m. and a parish scripture service will be at 5 p.m.

She was born on March 31, 1920, daughter of Henry and Cecelia (Handfelt) Hargrafen. She attended country school and later graduated from Xavier High School. She went on to teach country school in rural Delaware County until her marriage to Leo Bonert on May 15, 1945, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica in Dyersville; he preceded her in death.

The couple farmed northwest of Worthington until their retirement in 1985. They were blessed with six children, and Rita enjoyed being a full-time wife and mother. In retirement, Rita's favorite pastimes were gardening, playing cards and spending time with her family and friends. It was not uncommon to receive a phone call from Rita on a bright sunny day, just to say hello and see what was new.

Rita was a devout member of St. Paul Parish in Worthington and was active in the Altar and Rosary Society.

Surviving are her daughter, Mary (Arnold) Allamand, of Scotch Grove; two sons, Ron (Gail) Bonert, of Dyersville, and Steve (Jane) Bonert, of Hopkinton; a son-in-law, Forrest Smith, of Anamosa; a daughter-in-law, Patty Bonert, of Farley; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Leona Freiburger, of Delhi.

She also was preceded in death by two sons, Carl and Jerome; a daughter, Barbara; two grandsons, Mark Allamand and Cory Bonert; brothers, Lawrence and Ray; and sisters, Agnes and Margaret.

A memorial fund has been established in Rita's memory.

Information available and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramerfuneral.com.

The family would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to Hospice of Dubuque and the staff at Shady Rest Care Center in Cascade for the compassionate care given to Rita.