BONANDER, Donna Mae (Hocke) 1925-2002

BONANDER, HOCKE, HOLZ, KUHNERT

Posted By: Diane Johnson (email)
Date: 1/2/2003 at 07:01:02

BONANDER, DONNA MAE (HOCKE) 1925-2002
Donna Mae (Hocke) Bonander was born January 18, 1925, at Larchwood, Iowa, the daughter of Garlet and Hilda (Myrlie) Hocke. She was raised in Larchwood and graduated from Larchwood High School in 1943. After her education, Donna worked at various jobs in the area including doing housekeeping and working at Shriver's in Sioux Falls. On November 26, 1952, Donna was united in marriage to Axel Bonander, Jr. at Ben Clare, South Dakota. Following their marriage they lived in Minnesota and Iowa before moving to their farm near Larchwood in 1955. It was about this time that Donna and Axel became members of Beaver Valley Lutheran Church near Brandon, South Dakota. During her life Donna was a very active member of 4-H and garden clubs. She took pride in her big flower gardens and spent much time caring for her plants. She also enjoyed watching birds and seeing them eat at her bird feeder and became quite good at recognizing the different species. For the past twenty-four years Donna has had diabetes. For the first several years she was able to maintain a full and active life. However, for the past ten years she has had many difficulties because of the disease and has remained close to home. For the past seven weeks Donna's health declined steadily. The first three weeks she was hospitalized at McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls and for the past month she has been a resident of the Rock Rapids Health Center. While in the Rock Rapids Health Center, Donna suffered a stroke and her health continued to decline until she died on Monday, October 14, at the age of seventy-seven years.

Survivors include her husband of forty-nine years, Axel, and a son Bruce and his wife Lynne all of Larchwood. Also surviving are three grandchildren Angie Holz and her husband Josh, Heather Bonander and Melissa Bonander all of Larchwood, two great-grandchildren Cody and Austin Holz. Further survivors are two sisters, Darlene Kuhnert and Emeralda Johns and a brother Chuck Hocke.

Preceding Donna in death were her parents Garlet and Hilda Hocke.

Blessed be the memory of Donna Bonander.

Funeral, October 17, 2002, at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church, Valley Springs, South Dakota.