The funeral service for Robert “Bob” N. Bonnerup will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the First Lutheran Church, Albert Lea. Interment will be in Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 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, Md.
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 Minneapolis, Mary Swanson and her husband Rick of Wausua, Wis., David Bonnerup and his wife Anne of Albert Lea, and Beth Rohrabaugh and her husband Gary of Bellingham, Wash.; grandchildren: Lucas Alm and his wife Jenney Stevens of St. Paul, Stephan Alm and his wife Sara of San Francisco, Calif., Ed Swanson and his wife Susan Stein of Hartland, Wis., Andy Swanson of Burlington, Wis., Jake Bonnerup of Minneapolis, Sarah Judd and her husband Dan of Madison, S.D., Daniel Rohrabaugh of Seattle, Wash., and Emily Rohrabaugh of Minneapolis; great grandchildren Isobel Alm of St. Paul, Nasen Alm of San Francisco, Calif., Benjamin Swanson of Hartland, Wis., and Maggie Judd of Madison, S.D.; 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 are 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.