Matulka, Bonnie L. (Mrs. Mike) 1979-2007

MATULKA, KOOIKER, EKLUND

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 1/23/2015 at 00:07:37

Source: North West Iowa Review (10-2007)

Born: November 27, 1979
Died: October 20, 2007

Bonnie Lynn Matulka, 27, Omaha, Nebraska, formerly of Boyden, died Saturday, October 20, at her home. She was tenderly cared for her husband, Mike, her family, an army of volunteers from Ambassadors Worship Center, and several Hospice care providers.

Services were Tuesday, October 23, at Ambassadors Worship Center in Omaha, Nebraska. Burial was at Hope Cemetery in Hull, under the direction of Heafey-Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler West Center Chapel in Omaha, Nebraska.

Bonnie Matulka, daughter of John and Sherry Kooiker of Boyden, was born November 27, 1979, in Sioux Center. During her brief sojourn, she made public profession of her faith in Jesus Christ. She graduated from Hull Christian School, Unity Christian High School in Orange City and Dordt College in Sioux Center.

After teaching for one year at South Sioux City High School, she then taught Spanish and English language learners for five years at Omaha South High School. She also served as a Spanish/English interpreter at many medical facilities in the Omaha area.

She was a covenant partner in the Ambassadors Worship Center in Omaha, Nebraska, where she served on the praise and worship team. She was passionate about serving on mission trips, teaching on leadership both domestically and aboard. Through the activities at AWC, she met and eventually married her best friend, Mike Matulka on December 29. 2006. Together they faced a rare cancer with undaunted courage.

Her zest for living meant she enjoyed family gatherings, her friends, travel, real estate investment, her cat, Ojitos, and serving others.

Survivors include her husband, Mike Matulka of Omaha, Nebraska; her parents, John and Sherry Kooiker of Boyden; siblings, Sam and Jennifer Kooiker of Rapid City, South Dakota, Myron and Holly Dekkers of Hawarden, and Ben and Cathy Kooiker of Alton; five nieces; grandparents, Emery and Juanita Eklund of Miltonvale, Kansas; parents-in-law, Bernard and Marianne Matulka of David City, Nebraska; a sister-in-law, Ann Marie and her fiancé, Craig Tentinger of Wayne, Nebraska.