Bonnema, Mrs. Gerald (Luella) 1926- 2005

BONNEMA, MOHLMANN, SALISBURY

Posted By: Kathy Carlson (email)
Date: 11/28/2019 at 21:08:10

Luella Marie "Lou" Bonnema, 78, of Bremerton died Monday at Harrison Hospital.

Born in Sioux City, Iowa, to Ruby U. Burch, she was raised and educated in Cherokee, Iowa, graduating from Wilson High School there in 1945. During World War II, her family lived in Bremerton for a while to be near family members, and she attended Bremerton High School during her junior year. On September 30, 1945, she married Gerald "Doc" Bonnema, her high school sweetheart, in San Francisco. After the war, they returned to Iowa briefly, then settled in Bremerton in 1946.
Mrs. Bonnema worked at the J. C. Penney store in downtown Bremerton, then was an accountant at the Naval Supply Center until her retirement in 1982. Her husband played softball, and she , being his greatest fan, enjoyed cheering him on from the bleachers. Also, in earlier years, she was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi and volunteered with Camp Fire Girls and Girl Scouts when her daughter and granddaughter, respecfully, were involved.
Mrs. Bonnema and her husband were instrumental in founding the Kitsap Old Timer's Association. She was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church, the Parish Ed Circle there and the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (WELCA). She enjoyed bowling, dancing, traveling and spending time with her granddaughter and great grandchildren.

Mrs. Bonnema was preceded in death by her husband, her mother and her brother, Ronald Salisbury.

Surviving are her daughter, Linda Surette of Bremerton; a granddaughter, Kari Surette of Bremerton; and two great- grandchildren, Garrett and Makayla Dobbins, both of Bremerton.

Visitation will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Lewis Funeral Chapel in Bremerton, followed by a graveside service at 11 a.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery. A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 11th and Veneta, in Bremerton. Memorial donations may be made to Our Savior's Lutheran Church.

Source: Family member, niece, Kathy Ludwigs Carlson