Bonita M. "Bonnie" Hegemann

1926 - 2023

Bonita 'Bonnie' M. Hegemann

November 30, 1926 - September 19, 2023

Bonita "Bonnie" M. Hegemann, 96, of Norfolk, Nebraska, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023, at Faith Regional Health Services, Norfolk, Nebraska.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at Holy Family Church in Lindsay, Nebraska, with Fr. Stan Schmit officiating. The immediate family will gather for the inurnment at a later date at Holy Family Cemetery, Lindsay, Nebraska. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Monday at the church with a 7 p.m. wake service.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to one of Bonnie's favorite charities: Muscular Dystrophy Association or the American Heart Association.

Levander Funeral Home of Newman Grove, Nebraska, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at levanderfuneralhome.com.

Bonita "Bonnie" Marie Hegemann, daughter of Lawrence A. and Elizabeth "Elsie" Marie (Ramaekers) Beller, was born Nov. 30, 1926, at Lindsay, Nebraska. She attended Liberty School in Madison, Nebraska, from first grade through her junior year. She then attended Lindsay Holy Family for her senior year and graduated with the class of 1944.

On Oct. 2, 1945, Bonnie married Edward H. Hegemann at Lindsay Holy Family Church. Bonnie and Ed were blessed with six children. The family lived on a farm between Lindsay and Newman Grove. In 1984 she moved from the farm into Lindsay, where she resided across the street from Holy Family in the home built by Ed's parents.

While Bonnie was in high school, she worked as a bookkeeper at Lindsay Co-op. In later years, she worked at the nursing home in Newman Grove, assisting residents with activities, primarily ceramic creations.

Bonnie was an active parishioner at Holy Family Church, serving as a member and officer of various organizations affiliated with the church. When her husband Ed died in 1978, Bonnie began serving as a grief counselor for surviving spouses. An extension of her ministry to widows and widowers included co-founding a group happily named the Jolly Ten Widows, who remained loyal friends and participants for many years in the Newman Grove Norwegian Days festivities. When Lindsay celebrated its centennial, Bonnie chaired the planning committee. The same year, she founded and was the first leader of the Holy Family Folk Choir, which remains in service to this day over 35 years later and is providing the music ministry for her celebration of life. Bonnie was also a cherished member of the Alleluia Folk Group at Holy Family Church in San Jose, California, for 37 years, and a volunteer fundraiser for one of her favorite charities on the island of Maui, Hale Kau Kau, feeding the homeless and homebound, as well as a member of the Mele No Ka 'Ole choir at St. Theresa's Church on Maui.

Bonnie had varied hobbies over the years, many of which originated in her long-time membership with the Sociable Sues Auxiliary Club. Her hobbies included sewing, quilting, travel, music, ceramics, and crafts of every form imaginable. Her favorite pastime, however, was family gatherings that she hosted for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, which were filled with laughter, games, and mountains of delicious food, especially her famous homemade bread. As the Beller family matriarch, it is estimated that she had overseen the production of over one billion windbills over the years at the Beller Family gatherings! She was the queen of the "canned beef dinners," which she happily provided in her home to numerous groups of local priests who gathered every year before the penance services.

Bonnie is survived by her children: Jim's wife Rita Hegemann of Columbus, Nebraska; Ken and Rebecca Hegemann of Escondido, California; Joan and Rol Pfeifer of Morgan Hill, California; Pat's wife Amy Hegemann of Columbus, Nebraska; Karen Thomas and Brian Thomas of Norfolk, Nebraska; Judy and Mike Noecker of Norfolk, Nebraska; nine grandchildren: Tony and Kristi Hegemann; Karla and Chris Pandorf; Rob and Pam Hegemann; Jay Hegemann and Jen Scaramuzza; Tiana and Jonny Buschmann; Ben Thomas; Crystal and Derek Crosby; Courtney and Chris Farrier; Zachary and Shawnte Vogle; 16 great-grandchildren; siblings: Patricia Heimann of Fremont, Nebraska; Harry and Mary Beller of Custer, South Dakota; Jerry and Joni Beller of Omaha, Nebraska; Bob and Lori Beller of Monroe, Nebraska; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends from all over the country.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Ed; as well as two sons: Jim and Pat; her siblings and their spouses: Larry and Rita Beller; Jim and Mary Catherine Beller; Celine "Boots" and Alvin Bender; her in-laws: George Heimann, John and LaVerna McClean, Bill and Thelma Hegemann, and Lorraine Dooley; her nephews: Herb Bender; Rick Beller; Tom Heimann; Troy Beller; and Tommy McClean; and her great-grandchildren: Delilah Vogle; Olivia Vogle; and Weston Vogle.

As Bonnie always said: "Don't be sad that it's over; be glad it happened."