Elmer Bonnema

     Elmer Bonnema, age 92, of Sioux Center, IA passed away on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.  

     Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 9, 2019 at the Lebanon Christian Reformed Church of rural Sioux Center with Rev. Cory Van Sloten officiating. Interment with military honors will follow the service in the church cemetery.

     There will be a visitation at the church Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service.

     Elmer Bonnema was born on July 3, 1927, in Eagle Township in Sioux County to parents Peter and Leafy Bonnema. He attended country school through eighth grade and then worked with his father on the family farm.

     Elmer married Mathilda Mulder in Orange City, IA on October 18, 1950. He left the next month for Fort Leonard Wood, CO to be inducted into the army. In 1951, Elmer went to serve in Korea as a Jeep repair technician during the Korean War. He returned in November 1952 to work on the family farm.

     Daughter, Mary, was born while Elmer was serving in Korea. He and Mathilda were blessed with three more children: Lavonne, Myron (stillborn), and Barbara. Mathilda passed away on March 9, 1959, due to a house fire.

     Elmer married Jacoba Van Dorp, on August 11, 1961, in Lebanon, IA. He farmed on the family farm, raising pigs, cattle, and chickens. He was a lifetime member of the Lebanon Christians Reformed Church where he enjoyed participating in the church's Bible study groups and ministry activities. Elmer served as elder and deacon for many years. One activity he loved was pitching for the Lebanon Softball team. Jacoba passed away January 23, 1990.

     Elmer married Arta Haverhals on September 25, 1992, in Lebanon, IA. They lived in Sioux Center. He enjoyed playing cards and drinking coffee with the other men at the Senior Activity Center. In 2013, Elmer and Artie moved to Crown Pointe. Artie passed away on July 11, 2018. On August 20, 2019, Elmer moved into Royale Meadows.

     Elmer was a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served on the board of directors for Memorial Funeral Home.

He is survived by his three daughters and their families:

Mary and Stanley Goslinga of Orange City and children:

Jennifer and Joe Trosen

Michael and Elizabeth Goslinga

Rachel and Ryan De Vries

Lavonne and Don Jansen of Grand Rapids, MI and children:

Brad and Becky Jansen

Heidi Seosenyeng         

Lynn and Dykon Pacis

Barbara and Alan Van Beek of Orange City and children:

Adam and Marla Van Beek

Emily and Stephan McClure

Also left to cherish his memory are 15 great-grandchildren; one brother, Harold Bonnema; five stepchildren: Lorraine and Herb Struyk, John and Lorna Haverhals, Barry and Jodi Haverhals, Kevin Haverhals, Lois and Scott Mouw plus many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, three wives; infant son, Myron; and siblings: Mae and Dick Fedders, Melvin and Gertie Bonnema, Beulah and Clarence Statema, and sister-in­ law, Millie Bonnema.