Bonita Lager

Bonita “Bonnie” Catherine (Heim) Lager died on Sunday, March 8, 2020 at the Sheridan County Health Complex in Hoxie.

Bonnie was born on July 8, 1929, at the Hays hospital to Bill and Marie (Mannebach) Heim. The family lived in Leoville, KS and it was there that she met her husband, Alfred “Bud” at a local dance. Bud and Bonnie married on August 23, 1950. Together, they were dairy farmers, living north of Grinnell before moving into Grinnell in 1997.

Bonnie was an avid collector of glassware. She also loved to meet and talk with people, so she took up selling Beeline clothing, Bestline cleaning products, Tri-Chem liquid embroidery, and her favorite, Avon beauty products. Thursday night bingo, a regular card game of pitch or pinochle, and an occasional trip to the casino were great enjoyments for Bonnie. Often, Bud and Bonnie could be seen at local polka dances.

Bonnie was an active member of Altar societies at both Immaculate Conception parish in Grinnell and St. Paul’s parish in Angelus. She was a Daughter of Isabella at St. Paul’s Church in Angelus also.

Bonnie is survived by her husband, Bud; sons, Ron and his wife Linda, of Grinnell, KS, Father John, of Denver, CO and Mark, of Ventura, CA; her sister Mary Heim Niblock and her husband Don, of Hoxie, KS; brothers, Joe and his wife Sharron, of Indianapolis, IN, Bill and his wife Grace, of San Diego, CA, Don, of Phoenix, AZ and Gerald and his wife Helen, of Hoxie; grandchildren, Julie (Chris) Ribardo, of Bryan, TX, Brenda, of Hays, KS, Nate (Kelly), of Wichita, KS, Father Brian, of Hays, KS, Kevin (Melanie), of Seguin, KS, Marty (Abbie), of Colby, KS, and Austin, of Atchison, KS, and 15 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister Eileen; brothers, Jim and Jerome; her daughter Shirley and husband Joe; granddaughters, Annie and Jennie; her infant sons Kevin, Michael and Joseph; granddaughter-in-law, Hannah and great-grandson Matthias.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Parish Center in Grinnell, followed by a Vigil at 7:00. Funeral Mass will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, March 12, 2020 at Immaculate Conception Church in Grinnell followed by burial at St. Paul’s parish cemetery, in Angelus. Memorials are suggested to the Capuchin Province of Mid-America, Immaculate Conception Church or the Grinnell Senior Center and can be sent in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For information or condolences visit www.baalmannmortuary.com