Bonnie Mae Harder

Bonnie Mae Harder, 84, of Sioux City, passed away Tuesday, September 18, 2018. A Celebration of Life service will be 10:00 A.M. Monday, September 24, 2018 at Faith Lutheran Church. Visitation will be Sunday, September 23, 2018 from 5 to 8 P.M. with family present from 6 to 8 P.M. and a prayer service at 7 P.M., all at the church. Burial will be at Ponca City Cemetery in Ponca, Nebraska. Online condolences may be directed to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Bonnie was born the daughter of Ed and Winifred (Wilbur) Heydon on June 2, 1934 in Newcastle, Nebraska. She graduated from Newcastle High in 1951 where she was the homecoming queen and editor of the school paper her junior and senior year. She was also a cheerleader and involved in theatre. She lived in Newcastle until 1951 when she moved to Sioux City. She obtained her RN from Lutheran Nursing College in 1954. She married Charles F. “Chuck” Harder on November 28, 1954 in Ponca, Nebraska. They were married 57 years until Chuck passed away in 2012.

She enjoyed caring for others. Bonnie worked at the Lutheran Hospital from 1954 to 1966, only to stop to care for her mother as well as Bonnies' growing family. From 1968-1975 Bonnie worked at Crescent Park Elementary while also caring for a few elderly ladies providing meals and/or person cares. Bonnie's father came to live with Bonnie's family. She cared for him until his death. After this, Bonnie began caring for children in her home daycare 1980 to 1998. She treated them all as family and later in life loved their visits and sharing her fondest memories with those she helped raise.

Bonnie enjoyed cooking, baking and canning. Baking sugar cookies was her favorite. She was especially known for her sugar cookies and her delicious popcorn balls. She organized many family and church functions in which she shared her talents.

Bonnie enjoyed reading her bible, doing devotions and bible study. She was an active member of Faith Lutheran Church in many ways; i.e. fund raising Parish Fellowship, and LWML/Mary Martha Circle. She was a member of American Legion Auxiliary Post 64, past leader/supporter for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and PTA – Crescent Park Elementary.

Bonnie enjoyed writing letters and cards to family and friends sharing her faith through kind words. In her later years, to say she loved getting cards and letters would be an understatement. She cherished each and every one she received.

Bonnie led by example showing God's love, patience and acceptance. She touched many lives, in more ways than anyone would know - only she and the good Lord knows. Those fortunate enough to have called Bonnie family or friend have expressed joy from her warm hugs, gentle smiles and kind words. Bonnie lived her faith and was a witness to her faith and God's love even in her last hours. She would want all to find comfort not only in fond memories but in knowing she has completed her earthly life and has gone on in peace to her eternal home. The angel we all knew on earth is with our Lord in heaven, surrounded by those precious family and friends who had gone before her.

Bonnie is survived by her children, Annette (Richard) Gensler of Martinsburg, Nebraska, Suzanne Harder of Sioux City, Gregory Harder, Sr. of Sioux City, Debbie James of Sioux City, and Cheryl (David) Lambrecht of Sioux City; 11 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild; and daughter-in-law, Cherie Harder.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Chuck; six brothers; and two sisters.

Her wish for those on earth was very eloquently written by Bonnie, "Be kind to one another and you will enjoy many friends. Please believe in HIM (God) so we can meet again". Bonnie gifted her words of wisdom in a poem to her musician- granddaughter. Her granddaughter recorded the poem into lyrics for a song entitled, "The Visitor". This recording along with another song entitled, "Daddy Called Me Babe" brought much comfort to Bonnie and her family and was shared with all who stopped to visit in her last days.


Sugar Cookie Recipe

1 ½ C. Sugar
1 C. Crisco
4 Eggs
2 Tsp Real Vanilla
4 C. Flour
1 Tsp Baking Soda
2 Tsp Cream of Tartar
½ Tsp Salt

Cream sugar, vanilla, and Crisco together. Beat eggs and add to the mixture. Mix together flour, soda, cream of tartar and salt. Beat all together. Chill dough in refrigerator for 2 hours. Roll out and cut into shapes.

Bake at 375 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes.

Makes 6 dozen medium sized cookies.



Popcorn Ball Recipe

1 C. Sugar
¼ C. White Syrup
¼ C. Water
¼ C. Butter

Bring to a boil. Add 1 Tbs Vanilla and food color. Pour over ¾ large silver dish pan.



“The Visitor”

I am but a visitor here. Heaven is my Home.
When my work here on Earth is done, God will call me Home.
This is the reason, I tell it all to you.
I am but a visitor here, Heaven is my Home.

Miss me and cry real tears. That’s what I’d like you to do.
Then very soon, smile! And think of me, I’m in Heaven and I’m free at last of pain and suffering!
It will be great! Won’t you please believe?

I’ll miss out on things down here.
God gave Charlie and I true love for 57 years.
Together we built our lives. One by one until there were five.
Beautiful children, to each their own.
Twas never a dull moment in the Harder Home.

I am but a visitor here. Heaven is my Home.
When my work here on Earth is done, God will call me Home.
This is the reason, I tell it all to you.
I am but a visitor here, Heaven is my Home.

I’ll be smilin’ when it’s my time to leave.
And I wish happiness and good health to each.
Be kind to one another and you will enjoy many friends.
Please believe in Him so we can meet again.
In Heaven, I’m ready to go.
With Jesus, He will take me Home.

I am but a visitor here. Heaven is my Home.
When my work here on Earth is done, God will take me Home.
This is the reason, I tell it all to you.
I am but a visitor here, Heaven is my Home.

In 1993, My life and my family’s life changed forever. We were in need of a babysitter. I called the child care resources center and the lady on the phone said, I have a sitter, she isn’t certified but she is a wonderful lady. I highly recommend her. Her name is Bonnie Harder. I called Bonnie and set up a time to come meet her. As I drove up in the driveway, Cheryl, Bonnie’s daughter was coming out of Bonnie’s house. Cheryl yelled, She is the best! You will love her! I promise! And of course, she was right.

Bonnie kept Blake at 3 months old. Then came Mitchell, and then Ross. Kurtis is our oldest and he would come to Bonnie’s on certain occasions. My husband and I went to Bonnie’s house for 20 years, two times a day and not one time was I ever upset with her. Not one day was I ever worried about my boys when they were with Bonnie. We have been blessed to have the Harder Family in our lives. I really don’t know what we would of done without our Sweet Bonnie and Charlie.

When Bonnie asked me to say her eulogy I was so honored. She asked me to share some of the funny stories that occurred over the years that she kept our boys. She knew how much I loved her and we decided which ones to tell. There were A LOT of stories, but these stories were Bonnie’s favorites.

I brought Blake to Bonnie’s when he was just 3 months old. Being from Texas and young, I didn’t really know how to dress a baby with this Iowa weather. I didn’t realize that a blanket wasn’t enough to cover the baby when I would bring the baby into Bonnie’s house. In such a sweet and teaching moment, Bonnie says now when you bring him to my house, he needs to have a onesie on to keep him warm so he wont get sick. From that day forward, the boys wore onesies until they didn’t make them in their size anymore.

Bonnie had some rules for her house. One, don’t call from 12-3 because that is when the kids would be napping and so would she. Everyone knew that rule and everyone lived by it! Another rule was the size of toys you can bring to play with at Bonnie’s. The boys loved to play farm and Blake had a little farmer man. Well, he played with the little farmer guy all day long. I’m sure Bonnie worried all day that he would lose it and Mitchell would swallow it. When it was time for me to pick the boys up, we were walking to the car when Blake yells, “My LIL MAN”!! I said where is it? He said I dropped it. So, Bonnie went and got 2 big soup spoons and we stood scooping out of a mud puddle looking for this stupid lil man! All of a sudden, Blake yells, I found it, it was in my pocket! Both of us grumbled ughhhhh…and then we laughed. Bonnie said We don’t need to bring such little toys to my house. I said Yes Ma’am and went on my way.

I had the hardest time getting Blake and Mitchell to go to preschool. They both just wanted to stay at Bonnie’s . One time, I went to take Blake to the Prairie Creek Church Preschool. He was throwing a fit! I looked in my rearview mirror and there stood Blake stark naked in the very back of the car. I asked, what are you doing? He said you cant take me in there naked!! I said oh yes I can! There is a man up there on a cross with not much more on than what you have on and you are fixin to join him!!!!!! The teacher walks up to the car and looks inside and sees Blake bawling and NAKED! She said Oh it doesn’t look like Blake is having a good day. He doesn’t have to come to school today. There will be better days ahead. I was sooo mad! I took his clothes away from him and put his coat back on and buckled him in his car seat. I drove straight to Bonnie’s. When we arrived, Blake got out of his car seat, opened the door and ran into Bonnie’s house. He opens his coat and says LOOK Bonnie, she wont give me my clothes! Bonnie took the clothes out of my hand and says Ok, Mom have a great day as she turns and puts Blake’s clothes on him and acted like nothing happened. I was so mad at that child! But when Bonnie said have a nice day, my war with my hard headed son was over.

Mitchell didn’t want to go to preschool either! He just wanted to stay at Bonnie’s. The very first day, the teacher calls and says, Mitchell is having a really rough day. He keeps telling me he wants to go to Bonnie’s. I said I want to go to Bonnie’s too. Bonnie reassured me that Mitchell was going to be ok and he could come to Bonnie’s another day. As long as I told Mitchell that Bonnie said… then Mitchell calmed right down. But it wouldn’t of happened that way unless it came from Bonnie.

One day Mitchell and Charlie were sitting at the kitchen table, where everyone always sat when they came to visit. Mitchell was looking at the clock. He said Charlie, guess what time it is? Charlie said what time is it think he was really smart knowing how to tell time already, when Mitchell says, it’s almost time for my mom to get here! Close your eyes Charlie, cant ya just smell her? I always wore white diamonds perfume. I guess he liked it. Charlie got such a big kick out him saying that. He loved to tell that story about a 100 times.

Ross was about 15 months old when one day he swallowed a penny. I was worried sick. Bonnie tells me we will just watch for it in his diaper and it will reappear. Two days later, I went to pick the boys up and I walk in and there stands Bonnie with a little piece of cardboard with a dime glued to it. It said Traveling Time 2 ½ days. I said Oh Bonnie, this is the best kid ever! He swallowed a penny and it came out a dime!!! He is a money maker!!! We laughed on that one for days! It was really funny!

The Hoefling’s weren’t the first family to be taken care of by Bonnie. Bobby Kemper, one of Greg’s friend’s was in need of a sitter. Diane says that she couldn’t be happier to have sweet Bonnie keep her kids. Tammy was the oldest. Diane brought in her diaper bag and Bonnie seen the throw away diapers. Bonnie said, I don’t have to use those paper diapers, I can just use cloth. Diane insisted no way would she put Bonnie thru that. But once again, Bonnie was thinking about the baby and what she felt was best. Not how much work cloth diapers were. Just another sign of the love Bonnie showed to everyone.

There was a story that Bonnie shared when she was sharing with me when we talked about her eulogy. I guess Diane was pregnant with her second child, Becky. Bonnie and Charlie had some laying hens at their house in a little shed outback. Every day they would go and gather the eggs and Tammy was amazed and watching their every move. When they came in the house and Bonnie was starting to cook something she sees Bonnie crack the egg. Tammy then ask, is that how we are going to get the baby out of Mommy, just crack her open??? I guess it was really funny. Her and Charlie laughed every time that story was told.

Thru the years, I got to really know Bonnie’s kids and grandkids. I felt all the love that Bonnie had for each of them. Each one, Bonnie made sure they knew they were loved and very special to her. If they were ever sick, what a better place to be than on Grandma Bonnie’s couch. She took such good care of them. Everyone had their own wash cloth and their own glass. They all learned to wash their hands and face. Every day when I would pick up the boys, she always had them all cleaned up with their face washed, hair combed and baby lotion on them. Oh how they smelled so good. I have continued this caring way with my own grandchildren. As I put the lotion on my thoughts go to pure happiness and love just like Bonnie had when she put the lotion on my boys. Such a loving gesture. Small, but meant so much. The grandchildren would run in and out of Bonnie’s house, going here, going there. Going upstairs to play. They so loved it at their Grandma Bonnie’s. The grandkids loved it when my boys were at Bonnie’s. They played so good together. The more the merrier Bonnie thought. Poor Anna, Ross learned to say her name quick. ANNA he would yell and poor Anna had to stop what she was doing and play with Ross. Danielle was at her Grandma Bonnie’s most days before school. Bonnie helped her with her homework. Without fail, Bonnie would send Danelle out the door and minutes later, Danelle would return to get her book she forgot. Bonnie never fussed. She just said, go and have a better day! They would smile at each other and out Danelle would go off to school for the second time.

Bonnie loved from the bottom of her heart. She loved each and every grandchild and great grandchild she had. But there is one thing, we all know what not to say….I’M BORED…because if you said that you just bought yourself a job doing something like washing dishes, or cleaning out a cabinet or whatever Bonnie needed some extra help with. I’M BORED DID NOT FLY WITH GRANDMA BONNIE!

Bonnie was a nurse at Old St. Lukes Hospital. She worked the night shift so she could be home with the kids in the evening and she could sleep while the kids were in school. It was so much fun to see how excited Bonnie was to go to the class reunion to see her fellow classmates. She enjoyed it so.

Bonnie made a cook book. This was definitely a high light in her life. The stories she shared and the memories that were made will never be forgotten. The receipes were all made with the kindest of love.

Bonnie loved everyone. She definelty led by example showing god’s love, patiences and acceptance. Bonnie’s faith was very strong. She loved her church families and friends and being with them to share Jesus’ wisdom and living life as Jesus wanted us to do.

I was with Bonnie in her last days. I am so glad I was because it has made this time a lil easier. Why, you ask because Bonnie was so excited to go to Heaven and walk with Jesus. She was ready. Once again, she showed all of us that if you live as Jesus wants us to do, you to can be just as excited. I’ve never seen someone so excited to die. But to her it wasn’t about dying. It was about peace within her soul and joy to be with Our Lord, Jesus Christ. She was excited to be called home.

Bonnie loved Cardinals. She had quite the collection. Now I know why. Once again she was teaching us something. There is an old saying that goes like this: A cardinal is a representative of a loved one that has passed. When you see one it means they are visiting you. They usually show up when you most need them or miss them. They also make an appearance during times of celebration as well as despair to let you know they will always be with you. Look for them and they will appear. I have a little poem for Bonnie’s children:

If Roses grow in Heaven Lord, pick a bunch for me. Place them in my mother’s arms and tell her they’re from me. Tell her I love her and miss her and when she turns to smile place a kiss up her cheek and hold her for awhile because remembering her is easy, I do it everyday. But there’s a ache in my heart that will never go away.

Annette, Suzanne, Greg, Debbie and Cheryl I am very sorry for the loss of your mother. I want to thank you for sharing her with me. I loved her with my whole heart. She wasn’t just the best babysitter in the world, she was my friend. Rest in Peace My Bonnie.