Jean Ruby Bonnicksen's Obituary
Jean Ruby (Arnold) Bonnicksen, daughter of James Walter Arnold and Ruby Rose (Koeppe) Arnold. was born in Omaha, NE on November 4, 1929. Jean grew up on a farm near Martinsburg, NE, and during WWII her family moved first to South Sioux City, NE, then to Sioux City, IA. After graduating from Sioux City Central High School "the Castle on the Hill", Class of '47, Jean attended Samuels School of Beauty, also in Sioux City. Following completion of beauty school, she opened her own beauty shop in Estherville, IA. At a ballroom dance, a mutual friend introduced Jean to (Arthur) Kevin Bonnicksen of Ringsted, IA. They dated, and were engaged before Kevin entered the Marine Corps, to serve in Korea. After his return, on May 1, 1954, Jean and Kevin were married and settled on a farm near Spirit Lake, IA. In 1959, they adopted a daughter, Adele. Six years later, the couple moved from the farm to Estherville. Jean continued running her beauty shop in her home, and Jean and Kevin adopted a son, Rick. In 1966, Kevin began work as a seed technician for the Agronomy Department at I.S.U., and the family moved to Ames. Daughter Carolyn was born in 1968, and about that time, the family began spending summer vacations at the cabin on Lake Kabetogama, MN. Jean was an avid sports fan and followed many sports on television and in the newspapers. Soon after moving to Ames, Jean and Kevin became Cyclone fans, and held season football and basketball tickets for many years. She and Kevin enjoyed playing cards with family and friends--pinochle games were spirited contests. A life-long Lutheran, Jean was member of Bethesda Lutheran Church, where she was active member of the quilting group. In addition to quilting, Jean usually had a knitting, crocheting, or sewing project in progress. For over 40 years, Jean operated her beauty shop in Ames, and many of "her ladies" became her friends. The house on Yuma Avenue was her home for 51 years, until December, 2016, when she moved to Norwalk, IA to live with her daughter, Carolyn. Jean passed away March 12, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Jean was preceded death by an infant daughter, Barbara; a son, Rick; a grandson, Keevin; and her husband of 57 years, Kevin. She is survived by her daughters, Adele (Dirk) of Earlham, and Carolyn, of Norwalk, and by her grandchildren, Pieter Ver Steeg, Meredith Ver Steeg, and Leea Sleeth. Visitation will be Monday, March 20 from 4-7 at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care 414 Lincoln Way in Ames. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 21 at 11:00 at Bethesda Lutheran Church 1517 Northwestern in Ames. Lunch at the church will follow. Memorials are directed to the Bethesda Community Food Pantry, Lutheran World Relief, or Heifer Project. The family would like to express their gratitude for the support and care Jean received during her years in Ames, and more recently, in Norwalk and Des Moines. Online condolences may be directed to: www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com
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