The Funeral Service for Robert “Bob” N. Bonnerup will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, April 29, 2009, at the
First
Lutheran
Church
, Albert Lea.
Interment will be in
Graceland
Cemetery
.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service,
Albert Lea
, and one hour before the service at the church.
Bob died on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the
Albert Lea
Medical
Center
.
He
was 87 years old.
Bob was born on April 12, 1922, in
Albert Lea
(“New Denmark” – Northside), the son of Jens J.
and Alma C. (Nasen) Bonnerup. He always treasured his Danish roots.
Bob graduated from
Albert Lea
High School
in 1940, then attended
Luther
College
for
a year.
He continued his education at the
University
of
Minnesota
where he earned a certificate in Mortuary Science.
Bob was a Hospital Corps man in the United States Navy from 1942 to 1945,
stationed in Pearl Harbor and
Bethesda
,
Maryland
.
On May 6, 1945, he married his high school sweetheart, LaVonne
“Bonnie” Langemo, at the
First
Lutheran
Church
in Albert Lea.
Bob and Bonnie worked in partnership with Bob’s
parents, owning and operating Bonnerup and Son Funeral Chapel. Jens and Alma retired in 1960. Bob and Bonnie worked and served the
Albert Lea
and Ellendale communities until retiring in 1997.
Bob’s pride and joy was his family.
Travels in the “Beehive” camper travel – painted the infamous
Pontiac
’57 sea mist green – and adventures at the island on
Pickerel
Lake
created many cherished family memories.
In retirement, Bob found much enjoyment at “The Farm” where he planted trees, shrubs and hostas, tended his garden and relished the peace and quiet of nature.
Bob was
a great community advocate.
He was active at First Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council, was a member of the Noon Lion’s Club,
Masonic Lodge, the YMCA, serving on the board,
Y’s Men’s Club, Elks Club, Danish Brotherhood, American Legion and the V.F.W.
The “Sewing Club” gang, which he had been a part of since high school, played a very special role in his and Bonnie’s life.
Bob will be greatly missed by his family: wife Bonnie, of
Albert Lea
,
four children: Rebecca Alm and her husband Steven of Mpls, MN, Mary
Swanson and her husband Rick of
Wausua
,
WI
,
David Bonnerup
and his wife Anne of Albert Lea, Beth Rohrabaugh and her husband
Gary
of
Bellingham, WA; grandchildren: Lucas Alm and his wife Jenney Stevens of St. Paul, MN, Stephan Alm and his wife Sara of San Francisco, CA, Ed Swanson and his wife Susan Stein of Hartland, WI, Andy Swanson of Burlington, WI, Jake Bonnerup of Minneapolis, MN, Sarah Judd and her husband Dan of Madison, SD, Daniel Rohrabaugh of Seattle, WA, and Emily Rohrabaugh of Mpls, MN; great grandchildren Isobel Alm of
St. Paul, MN, Nasen Alm of San Francisco, CA, Benjamin Swanson of Hartland, WI
and Maggie Judd of
Madison
,
SD
; sister Ann Trytten of
Mississippi
, and many nieces,
nephews, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jens and Alma Bonnerup.
Memorials suggested to First Lutheran Peace and Power.
Bob enriched many lives with his caring, compassionate manner.
The twinkle in his eye will never be forgotten.
Blessed be his memory
