Wilhelmina “Wilma” Louise Bonen, 90, of Blackwater received her eternal reward Sunday, November 19, 2023, surrounded by her family at The Lodge in Fayette.
Visitation for Wilma will be held Tuesday, November 28, 2023, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Recitation of the rosary will begin at 4:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be held at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church Wednesday, November 29, 2023, beginning at 11:00 a.m. with Father Duncan officiating. Burial will follow in SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery.
Wilhelmina Louise Bonen was born August 11, 1933, on the family farm in Chariton County, Missouri, the second daughter of Frank and Elizabeth (Neilson) Hanke. She was baptized at St. Joesph Catholic Church in Salisbury, MO. In the early 1940s she moved with her family to a farm in Glasgow, MO. She graduated from St. Elizabeth Academy in St. Louis in 1951, there she won awards for unique skills of typing. This skill benefited her while working at St. Joseph Hospital in Boonville as a medical transcriptionist and lab tech. Wilma married the love of her life Kenneth Eugene Bonen June 7, 1955, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Glasgow and made their home on a farm in Blackwater, MO. She then continued to work at Cooper County Memorial hospital for many years and retired at 80 years old. Wilma was a member of SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and volunteered her time and talent to the church, including being a teacher’s aide at the school. She also helped with Willing Workers 4-H club, a member of Extension Club for many years and was a team member money counter after Sunday mass. Wilma enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. She also loved farming, gardening, and baseball, especially the Cardinals and Royals. Bingo was her weekly splurge, she loved playing and being with all her friends. Wilma would always be picking pecans and walnuts and sharing them with her family and friends. She was loved and will be missed by all.
Wilma is preceded in death by her parents Frank and Elizabeth Hanke, husband Kenneth Bonen, and sister Agnes Hoff. She is survived by her son Russell (Bridgett) Bonen of Armstrong, Missouri, daughter Denise (David) Crawley of Ellisville, Missouri, and sister Hermine Kraus of Sedelia, Missouri. She also leaves behind grandchildren Sam and Elizabeth Crawley, Helen (Lindsay) Wright and Alex and Gabe Bonen, great grandchildren Bostyn and Tynlee Wright and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces, and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to SS. Peter and Paul Catholic School in Boonville, St. Mary’s Catholic School in Glasgow, or The Breast Cancer Foundation. Online condolences may be left at: www.howardfh.com.