Bonnema, Don 1929-2010

BONNEMA, MUILENBURG, RENSINK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/1/2010 at 06:22:35

Don Bonnema,
May 01, 1929 - August 09, 2010
Funeral Service: Friday, 10:30 a.m. August 13, 2010 at Third Reformed Church, Pella, IA
Interment: Oakwood Cemetery, Pella, IA

DONALD BONNEMA PELLA, IOWA Donald Lemuel Bonnema was born on May 1, 1929, at Orange City, Iowa. He was one of two sons that were born to Ben and Henrietta Muilenberg Bonnema. Don attended school in Orange City where he graduated from high school. While at a church social he met a young lady, Harriet Joyce Rensink. This led to a courtship, and on March 22, 1951, they were united in marriage at the Newkirk Reformed Church in Newkirk, Iowa. Don was drafted into the United States Marine Corps in January of 1952, and Joyce accompanied him to Camp Pendleton in California. In 1953, she moved back to Newkirk when Don was ordered to serve overseas during the Korean War. In 1954, he was honorably discharged, and they resumed their lives together in northwest Iowa where Don began working in a paint store in Primgar, Iowa. To this union four children were born: Sharise Leigh, Loren Keith, Cheryl Beth and Charma Joy. Their first three children were born in northwest Iowa. Then on January 8, 1955, Sharise died at the age of two years following a brief illness. This loss changed life for Don and Joyce. They lived in Altoona, Iowa while Don attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa for one year. In 1959, the family moved to Pella, Iowa. Don commuted back and forth as a grain specialist for the Farmers Grain Elevator at Avon Lake, Iowa until assuming the same position for the Farmers Cooperative Exchange in Pella where he was employed for over 20 years. Joyce was employed in the dietary department at the Pella Community Hospital for 24 years. They remained very devoted to each other. During the last 8 years of Joyce's life, he faithfully and compassionately attended to her needs until she passed away on April 1, 2004, at the age of 74 years. They enjoyed traveling together as a family, and Don continued to live in their residence at 616 Spruce Drive where he enjoyed listening to classical and southern gospel music and watching western movies. On Monday morning, August 9, 2010, he passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella at the age of 81 years. Those who will remember his faithful spirit are three children and their spouses, seven grandchildren, who will always remember his good-bye’s with, "Don’t take any wooden nickels," and one great-granddaughter. They are Loren and Tammy Bonnema of Pella, Iowa, Cheryl and Jay Schaap of St.John, Indiana,and Charma and Mike Vander Wert of Pella, Iowa. Don leaves his sister-in-law, Ruth (Earl) Bonnema of Orange City, Iowa and a sister-in-law, Lois (Glenn) Rensink of Hospers, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; his infant daughter, Sharise; his parents, Ben and Henrietta Bonnema; his parents-in-law, Arthur and Nina Peters Rensink; his brother, Earl P. Bonnema; and a brother-in-law, Glenn Rensink. Don made profession of his faith at the Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City and at the time of his death was a member of the Third Reformed Church in Pella. He was also a member of the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella. Don was especially proud of raising his family in a Christian home.
Source: VanDyk-Duven Funeral Home of Pella, IA., obit.