Bonnie D. Smith (1929-2019)

SMITH, GRONAU, BERESFORD

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 7/24/2019 at 20:14:22

Bonnie D. Smith of Dubuque, Iowa passed away peacefully on July 23, 2019, at home with family by her side.

Family and friends may visit from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, Dubuque, Iowa. To honor Bonnie's life, funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, July 26, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory with Pastor Karla Wildberger officiating. Burial will follow at Dubuque Memorial Gardens.

Bonnie was born on January 2, 1929 in Rockford, Illinois, the eldest daughter of Arnold and Elsie (Gronau) Beresford. She lived most of her life in Dubuque and attended Senior High School. She was proud to have received her GED later in life, at the age of 53.

Bonnie held several jobs in her lifetime, including Stanley Home Products, Mercy Medical Center, and Betty Jane Candies. Her favorite "job" was singing with the band on weekends alongside of a red-headed guitar player with the smooth voice.

She was united in marriage to the love of her life, Joe "Red" Smith on March 17, 1962, and they were blessed with 55 wonderful years together before he preceded her in death on December 4, 2017.

She was a devoted wife, loving mother and adoring grandmother. She loved her family fiercely and worked hard all her life to provide for them. She enjoyed music, fishing, playing cards, watching baseball and basketball games, baking (especially banana cream pie), playing the slot machines, and of course...shopping. She never missed a garage sale sign or a great deal!

Those left to cherish Bonnie's memory include her three children, Joe Smith of Nashville, TN, Karen (Roy) Mullins of Smyrna, TN and Randy (Lisa) Smith of Dubuque; her three grandchildren, Randi (Kalen) Bales, Joey (Kali Martinez) Smith, Matthew Mullins; two step-grandchildren, Leah Tam-Mullins and Clifford Mullins; her seven great-grandchildren, Noah, Jacob, Owen, Hatten, Eowyn, Violet and Kamden; her sister, Carol (Charles) Miehe of Belmont, WI, along with many nieces and nephews, and a very special long time "bestie", MaryAnne Klein.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents and her loving husband, Red; brothers, Dale Beresford, Donald Beresford, Kenneth Beresford, Wayne Beresford, and sister, Janet Kohl.

The family would like to extend appreciation to Hospice of Dubuque for their love, care and support of Bonnie in her final days.