Axel Bonander

Larchwood, IA Axel Bonander age 87 of Larchwood, IA died unexpectedly, Wednesday November 25, 2009, at his home west of Larchwood, IA. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Sunday, Nov. 29th at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church, rural Valley Springs, SD, with Rev. Jerry Merkouris officiating. Burial will follow at South Beaver Valley Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday, Nov. 28th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Larchwood. Axel Robert Bonander, Jr. was born September 6, 1922 on a family farm west of Larchwood, Iowa, the son of Axel, Sr. and Olga (Hildring) Bonander. He was raised in the Larchwood area and attended Larchwood Public Schools. After his education he entered the U. S. Navy in October of 1943, serving in Pearl Harbor and Okinawa, Iwo Jima and China. He was honorable discharged in April of 1946 and returned home. Axel was united in marriage to Donna Mae Hocke on November 26, 1952 at Ben Claire Methodist Church near Valley Springs, SD. Together they lived in Jasper, MN, until 1955 when they moved to their farm near Larchwood, IA. Axel enjoyed working the land and raising livestock. He also enjoyed coffee and visiting with family and friends. He was especially fond of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a member of the Beaver Valley Lutheran Church and the Flessner American Legion, Post No.561 of Larchwood. On October 14, 2002, Axels wife Donna Mae Bonander died after 49 years of marriage. Axel remained active with farming, along side his son, Bruce until this past Wednesday, November 25, 2009, when he died at the age of 87. He was survived by his son, Bruce (wife, Lynne) Bonander of Larchwood, IA; three granddaughters, Angie (husband, Josh) Holz, Heather Bonander and Melissa Bonander; four great-grandchildren, Cody, Austin, Ashley and Blake Holz; two brothers, Harold (wife, Vernice) Bonander of Minneapolis, MN and Russ Bonander of Rock Rapids, IA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Axel Sr. and Olga Bonander; his wife, Donna Mae Bonander; two brothers, Oscar and Edgar Bonander; and two sisters, Evelyn Poirier and Mildred Hammitt.