Bonnie J. Simonsen

Bonnie Jean (Kai) Simonsen, 76, of Pender, Nebraska died on Friday, August 7, 2009 at the Pender Community Hospital in Pender, Nebraska. A funeral service for Bonnie will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at 10:30 A.M. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender; Pastor Margaret Olson will be officiating. A visitation will be held on Monday from 3:00 until 8:00 P.M. at the Munderloh Funeral Home in Pender. Burial will be in the St. Mark’s Lutheran Church Cemetery. Bonnie Jean (Kai) Simonsen was born on October 8, 1932 in Pender, Nebraska, the daughter of John and Edith Kai. She was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church and later confirmed at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Pender. Bonnie attended Country School District #31, and Pender High School. She was united in marriage on March 6, 1949 to Gordon Simonsen at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. Together they lived and farmed south of Pender for 46 years and raised their three children: Bruce, Diane and Terry. Bonnie moved into her home in Pender in 1997. She was very active in her church serving on the church council and numerous committees. She was also a member of the Pender Hospital Auxiliary. She loved to play cards and belonged to card clubs and the cc club in Pender. She loved going on trips with the Heritage Club and enjoyed a trip to the casino now and then. Her family was very important to her and spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren was a favorite past time. She was well known for her cooking and everyone was always welcome at her table. Bonnie is survived by her three children: Bruce and wife Roxanne Simonsen of Lyons, Diane and husband Larry VanKirk of Bancroft, and Terry and wife Cathy Simonsen of Pender, seven grandsons and their wives: Scott and Beth Simonsen, Gregg and Lisa Simonsen, Kyle and Abby Simonsen, Brock and Jacque Simonsen, Bryan and Anne VanKirk, Eric and Ann Simonsen, Clint and Carla Simonsen; a granddaughter and her husband: Mandy and Chris Ellis; and ten great grandchildren. She is also survived by two brothers Dale Kai and Bill Kai, two sisters Phyllis Breitbarth and Charlotte Roth and sister-in-laws Diann Kai, Linda Kai, Delores Hunt and Aggie Deal. She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon, her parents John and Edith Kai, a brother Jack Kai, a sister Charlene Kai, three brother-in-laws Gerald Gilster, Glenn Heyne, and Emery Breitbarth and two sister-in-laws Kathryn Heyne and Elaine Kai.