Russel Bonander

Larchwood, IA Russel Bonander age 95 of Larchwood, IA died Wednesday, March 2, 2011, at Lyon Manor Nursing and Rehab in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at Grandview Covenant Church in rural Larchwood, IA with Rev. Penny Nance, officiating. Burial will follow in the Grandview Covenant Cemetery. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 8th from 2:00 " 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Larchwood. Russel Arthur Bonander was born October 30, 1915 on a farm near Granite, IA. He is the son of Axel and Olga (Hildring) Bonander. After graduating from Larchwood High School, he attended Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls, SD where he took courses in accounting. He worked for Beatrice Creamery in Sioux Falls and Chariton, IA as an accountant. On February 12, 1942, he entered the armed services and served in the United States Army as a Technician 5th Grade in the Field Artillery in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. He received battle stars for five military campaigns. He returned to the United States on September 6, 1945. He married Doris Young in Chariton, IA on February 20, 1949. They lived in Des Moines, IA until March 1951 when they moved to Denver, CO. He was employed there as an office and credit manager until 1971. He and his family returned to Larchwood, IA in 1971 where he was employed at Security Savings Bank. He served on the Board of Directors of the bank from 1972 until 1984. In 1984, he retired as vice president. He was adjutant and past commander of the Flessner American Legion Post No. 196 in Larchwood. He was active in Senior Citizens and was president of the Larchwood Club. He enjoyed writing as one of his hobbies and had articles published in the Denver Post Sunday Magazine and the Dakota Farmer. He grew up in the Grandview Covenant Church and had been a member of Covenant churches in Des Moines and Denver. He had been a member of the Sioux Falls Covenant Church since 1971. He is survived by, his daughter and son-in-law, Cecelia and Jim Zangger of Larchwood, IA; son, Larry Bonander of Timonium, MD; grandchildren Kimberly Tucker of Cedar Rapids, IA and Dan Zangger of Los Angeles, CA; two great grandchildren Audrey and Grant Tucker of Cedar Rapids, IA; a brother, Harold of Minneapolis, MN; and several nieces and nephews, survive him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Bonander, his parents Axel and Olga; his brothers Oscar, Edgar, and Axel Jr.; and sisters Evelyn Poirier and Mildred Hammitt.