Bonnie J. Struempler, age 94 of Broken Bow, died Sunday, December 31, 2023, at the Quality Living Center in Broken Bow where she had been a resident for 6 years.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the First Lutheran Church at Buffalo south of Oconto, NE. Burial will be in the Christ Lutheran Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Govier Brothers Mortuary in Broken Bow with family greeting friends from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM at Govier Brothers. Memorials are suggested to the Christ Lutheran Cemetery or the family for later designation. Online condolences can be left at www.govierbrothers.com
Bonnie Jane Struempler was born in the Buffalo Community south of Oconto to Floyd & Minnie (Knoop) Weaver on April 30, 1929. Bonnie was Baptized June 25, 1939, at home. She was confirmed on May 20, 1945, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington. Bonnie graduated from Lexington High School in 1947. Bonnie taught at rural schools near Cozad and Callaway for three years.
Bonnie married Fritz Struempler on February 4, 1951, at the First Lutheran Church at Buffalo. The couple lived in the Lexington area for two years before moving to Tallin Table where they lived and farmed in the Community for 21 years. The couple moved to Mason City in 1974, where Fritz farmed, and Bonnie worked at IML in Ravenna for 21 years. May of 1993, they received a Good Neighbor Award from the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben and the World Herald. Fritz passed away in 2000. Bonnie continued to make her home in Mason City. In 2010, Bonnie moved to Broken Bow, after moving to Broken Bow she worked five years at Off Broadway. Bonnie was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Merna, NE. Bonnie enjoyed gardening, cooking, baking, and was a great hostess, but most of all she loved her family.
Bonnie is survived by children Shirley (David) Steele of North Platte, Patricia (Paul) Wathen of Hastings; eight grandchildren: Michael (Colleen) Steele of North Platte, Daniel (Raconda) Steele of North Platte, Melinda (James) Ehlers of Omaha, Kimberly (Jesse) Hurt of Dannebrog, Paul, Jr (Rebecca) Wathen of Heath, TX, Brandy (Rodney) Holling of Hastings, Chancey Struempler of Hastings, and Roxie Struempler of Millard; 24 great grandchildren: Benjamin, Shelby and Seth Steele of North Platte, Taedyn (Thomas) Brinkman of North Platte, Sydney (Malachi) Jensen of North Platte, Reigan, Juelle, & Cade Steele of North Platte, Caden & Brycen Ehlers of Omaha, Alexys, Justys, & Skylar Hurt of Dannebrog, Codi (Ethan) Kuen of Canton, TX, Aric, Kelsey & Kaleb Wathen of Heath, TX, Kalem & Casey Holling, Kyle Dillon of Hastings, Tyden, Katrena & Mariyah Holling of Hastings, and Isiah & Ally Tranquilino of Millard; great great granddaughter Evanava Brinkman of North Platte; aunt Evelyn Hutt of Elwood,; brothers-in-law Robert Connor of Bloomington, IL and Ronald Struempler of Oconto; sisters-in-law Elsie Cyriacks of Gothenburg and Adele (Paul) Chandler of Plymouth, MN, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Bonnie was preceded in death by grandparents Roy & Ethel Weaver, parents Floyd & Minnie Weaver, parents-in-law Fritz, Sr. & Minnie Struempler, husband Fritz Struempler, Jr., son Larry Struempler, brother Dewayne Weaver, sister Dorothy Connor, and great-granddaughters Kaelyn Wathen and Whitney Steele.