Bonnema, Norman George 1934-2015

BONNEMA

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/16/2024 at 19:31:29

STORM LAKE, Iowa | Norman George Bonnema, 80, of Storm Lake died April 17, 2015, in Hospice Care in Mesa, Ariz.

Memorial services will be held to celebrate Norman's life later this summer.

Norman was born on May 9, 1934, to John and Ethel Bonnema, in Steen, Minn. Norman was a retired Naval Reserve commander. He worked his entire career for Buena Vista University as a professor, teaching and impacting students in the business program. In the later years, he served as the center director for some of Buena Vista's first satellite campuses, where he assisted many nontraditional students in the attainment of a degree.

For 17 years after retirement, he and Lorna would travel to Mesa for the winter season to enjoy time with many friends and family members.

He is survived by wife, Lorna of Storm Lake; son, Dr. Craig Bonnema and wife, Margaret, of Chesapeake, Va.; daughter, Kris Prouty and husband, David of Oklahoma City, Okla.; five grandchildren, Lindsay, Bradley and Brenton Bonnema of Chesapeake, and Jordan and Megan Prouty of Oklahoma City; and siblings, Marlys Van Aartsen and husband, Henry of Orange City, Iowa, Merle Bonnema and wife, Karen of Menifee, Calif., Gene Bonnema and wife, Sherry of Franklin, Tenn., and Phyllis DeKriek and husband, John of Cerritos, Calif.

He lived life, loved life and shared life.

Source: Storm Lake Times Pilot issue online for May 6, 2015.