Mrs. Gertrude Bonestroo, age 86, of Hull, passed away on Sunday, August 31, at the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull.
There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, September 3, at 10:00 am, at the First Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Kevin Yurk will officiate. Interment will follow at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. Visitation will be after 4:00 pm on Tuesday, with the family present from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.
Gertrude was born on February 19, 1928, in Rock Valley, the daughter of Edward J. and Alice (De Jong) Swier. She was raised at Rock Valley.
On May 2, 1947, she married Marion Gerald Bonestroo in Rock Valley. They made their home in various places until 1959, when they moved to rural Hull. In 1960, they moved into Hull. She became a resident of Pleasant Acres in July of 2013.
“Gert” was a member of the First Reformed Church, where she participated in the women’s organizations. She also belonged to the Wegman-Koele American Legion Auxiliary and she assisted with the Scouts.
She enjoyed doing needlework, especially crocheting and knitting. She made hundreds of afghans and baby blankets for many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, other family members, and friends. She liked flowers and had a “green thumb”.
Survivors include her husband of more than 67 years, Gerald; four children, Erwin Bonestroo, and his wife, Janet; Ronald Bonestroo, and his friend, Peggy Steinmetz; Janice, and her husband, Lyle Van Voorst; and Douglas Bonestroo, and his wife, Judy; fifteen grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren; and four brothers and four sisters, Fan DeJoode, Grace Teunissen, Lorance (Rose) Swier, Bernard Swier, Viola (Bernard) Elgersma, Clarence Swier, Ruth (Kenneth) Beukema, and Edward J. (Lynn) Swier.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Buys; a son, Kenneth Bonestroo; and two brothers Cornelius and Fred Swier.
Memorials will be directed to the Legion Auxiliary and the church building fund.
