Bonnie Jean Abele Osnes
Bonnie Jean (Abele) Osnes 94, Lake Mills, passed away peacefully Monday, Jan. 27, 2020, at the Lake Mills Care Center. Celebration of Life services will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Forest City, with the Rev. Rod Hopp officiating. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 28, at Cataldo Schott Funeral Home, Forest City. Burial will take place at Madison Township Cemetery, Forest City.
Bonnie was born May 3, 1925, to Clinton and Ada (Peterson) Stokesbary in rural Klemme. She grew up with four brothers and four sisters in the Klemme, Garner and Mason City communities. They were a very close family, gathering for holidays, birthdays and other special occasions. Bonnie and her sisters, Maxine, Ruth and Phyllis, were especially close.
Bonnie graduated from Lake Mills Community School in 1943. While a student at Lake Mills, she also received teachers training. She taught for three years in country schools near Garner. Bonnie enjoyed sharing stories with her grandchildren of teaching country school, comparing it to what they were experiencing.
Bonnie married Elmer Lewis Abele, June 2, 1946, at the Garner United Methodist Church. This happened to be a double wedding ceremony as Bonnie’s sister, Maxine, married Merlyn Upmeyer.
Elmer and Bonnie moved to their farm home west of Lake Mills in 1948. Bonnie was a homemaker who enjoyed sewing, quilting, crafting and crocheting. They raised four children on the farm: Michael, Steven, Brian and Ann. Elmer passed away April 21, 1980.
While employed as a dormitory head resident at Waldorf College, Forest City, Bonnie met John T. Osnes. They married July 28, 1984 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Forest City. They made their home in Forest City and were active members of Immanuel Lutheran and the Sons of Norway. Bonnie was involved with church circle, quilters and the Prayer Shawl ministry. John passed away Sept. 19, 2011.
Bonnie enjoyed living in her home in Forest City until the effects of Lewy body dementia started to control her life. She lived for a short time at Forest Plaza Assisted Living and then moved to Westview Care Center in Britt. In January of 2019 Bonnie entered the Lake Mills Care Center.
Bonnie is survived by her children: Steven (Jan) Abele, Brian (Barb) Abele and Ann Fischer; seven grandchildren: Paul Abele, Stephanie Abele, Melissa (Josh) Bruellman, Allison (Bob) Greenfield, Sarah (Nick) Kuennen, Ryan Fischer, Rachel (Robert) Searcy; 14 grandchildren; sisters: Maxine Upmeyer, Ruth Law, and Phyllis (Dusty) Devens; along with many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Michael (1969); first husband, Elmer Abele; andsecond husband, John Osnes; and siblings: Lyle, Mildred, Glenn, Marvin and Bert.
