BONNETTE, Dennis Lee 1948-2015

BONNETTE, SHANE, DUCHAY, LARSEN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/13/2015 at 23:10:29

Dennis Lee Bonnette

Birth date: May 29, 1948
Death date: April 2, 2015

Obituary:

Dennis Lee Bonnette, age 66 years, passed away on April 2, 2015, at CGH Medical Center in Sterling, Illinois. He died unexpectedly during a routine medical procedure.

Dennis was born May 29, 1948 in Charles City, Iowa to Clyde Martin Bonnette and Arlene W. Larsen Bonnette. He was baptized June 27, 1948 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Charles City.

He began elementary school in a one-room schoolhouse, Douglas Number 4, in Mitchell County Iowa, and graduated High School at Riceville in 1966. He worked as a cross-country semi driver for most of his career. He retired after 37.5 years of over the road trucking.

Dennis enjoyed fixing mechanical things such as tractors, mostly green and yellow antiques. He inherited the gift of making friends easily and visiting with them at every opportunity, from his father. He was a generous soul who loved to do things anonymously for others. As a child he learned to play 500, and continued to enjoy playing that game with family and friends for the rest of his life. He also enjoyed fishing, boating, and especially spending time with his large extended family.

He has lived in Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, New York and Oklahoma.

Dennis married Jacqueline Shane on April 8, 1967 at Adams, Minnesota. Three sons were born to them, John, Jay, and Matthew. They were later divorced. In 1979 he married Marion Duchay in Illinois. She died in January of 2006. He is survived by longtime sweetheart, Sandy Offen of McIntire, Iowa.

He is further survived by his two sons, John (Chris) Bonnette of Syracuse, Kansas, Matt (Andrea) Bonnette of Dixon, Illinois; three adopted sons Jay, Brett and Justin Bonnette; two stepsons Mark (Laura) Duchay of Rock Falls, Illinois, Robert (Melody) Duchay of Warroad, Minnesota, a stepdaughter Diana (Andy) DeGross of Subiaco, Arkansas; one brother Thomas Dean (Anna) Bonnette of Riceville, Iowa; sister and Godmother, Susie (Frank) Belmont of Vista, California; Karen (James ) Gray of Spring Grove, Minnesota, many foster children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews and a host of cousins. Sandy’s five children Lynnette (Justin) Gerber, Adams, Minnesota; Michelle (Carl Brumm) Richardson, Osage, Iowa, Deanne (Rob) Tyler, West Union, Iowa; Daniel (Tina) Offen, McIntire, Iowa; Jenelle (Kirk) Olson, Racine, Minnesota and all their children who called him “Grandpa”.

He was preceded in death by an infant son Jay, by his parents, and his second wife.

Service:
A funeral service was held at the Chapel Hill Funeral Home in Dixon, Illinois, on April 7.

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 24 at 2:00pm at St Peter’s Lutheran Church where he was confirmed in Riceville Iowa, with Rev. Chris Gorshe officiating.

Cemetery:
Inurnment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Riceville, Iowa.

Source: Lindstrom Funeral Home website