[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

Bonnie Jo Ocheltree, 19 Aug 1938 - 03 Jul 2016

OCHELTREE, ANKENY, KENNELLY, NELSON, LISTON

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 7/19/2016 at 16:39:51

Bonnie Ocheltree, 77, Williamsburg, died on July 3, 2016 after more than a year of fighting as hard as she could to recover from a stroke she suffered in January 2015.

A celebration of life gathering will be held at a later date.

Powell Funeral Home, Williamsburg, is in charge of arrangements. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com.

Bonnie Ocheltree was born Aug. 19, 1938, in Villisca, and grew up with her sister, Betty. Together they had lots of adventures. On hot summer days, they followed the ice wagon. The iceman would cut off chips from the big ice blocks and give them to Bonnie and Betty. There were also many stories about traveling to Jackson, Neb., to visit Grandma and Grandpa Kennelly. There they would feed baby goats from a bottle and take imaginary trips in Grandpa’s old abandoned truck.

In high school Bonnie got involved in everything. She played the saxophone in the band, cheered on the basketball and football teams as a cheerleader, and was a member of many organizations and clubs. She had a group of best friends in high school, and they all took turns wearing the same sweater and pearl necklace for their senior pictures. The yearbook caption under her picture read, “Not to tall, Not to small, She’s the gal that’s liked by all!”

Bonnie worked hard her whole life. During high school she worked at the local movie theatre, “The Rialto” and at the dentist office. She enjoyed the movie theatre a lot more! After high school, Bonnie went to college to earn her teaching degree. Bonnie taught school for many years at Lincoln Elementary in Villisca. She absolutely loved second graders and they loved her! After moving to Williamsburg, Bonnie also worked as a waitress at Seven Village Restaurant where her regulars also became her friends. She retired from the restaurant, but missed interacting with people everyday. So she went back to work as a cashier at Dollar General because she loved talking with the customers as they went through the checkout line.

Bonnie loved sitting on the deck, drinking her morning coffee with her faithful companions, Teddy and Charlie. She loved to go for rides out to Iowa Lake or to look at Christmas lights. She loved Hallmark movies and taking on the phone to her sister and friends. Later, Bonnie learned how to text and loved keeping in touch that way, too! Bonnie loved grilling burgers and brats for cookouts. Bonnie was a great cook and made the best potato salad and turkey dressing ever.

More than anything, Bonnie loved being a mom and a grandma. She was so proud of her nine grandchildren. She loved hearing about their music, sports, scouting, jobs and schoolwork. Bonnie told her own children how lucky they were to have “such good kids.” Her favorite times were when the whole family could be together for Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or just a summer afternoon and evening on the deck.

Although the stroke stole many of her memories - she always knew and loved her family.

Bonnie is survived by her four children: Julie (Nelson), North Liberty; Joe (Laurie), Williamsburg; Steven, of Kelly, and Staci, Williamsburg; her nine grandchildren: Ben, Andrew, Blake, Beth, Heather, Hunter, Abby, Hannah and Ethan; a her sister and brother-in-law: Betty and Jim Liston, Council Bluffs, and their children and families.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, and her parents: Josephine and Darwin Ankeny.

Journal Tribune, 06 Jul 2016
Notice only in The Gazette, 06 Jul 2016


 

Iowa Obituaries maintained by Steve Williams.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen

[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]