Bonnie Hassebroek

Bonnie Jean Brodie Hassebroek of Sioux City passed away Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, Sixth and Nebraska, of which she had been a member for 62 years, with the Rev. Matthew Miller officiating. Lunch will be served immediately following at the church. Cremains will be placed in the family plot at a later date by the family at Zoar Presbyterian Church in George, Iowa. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. today, with a prayer/reflection time at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, 3220 Stone Park Boulevard.

Bonnie was born Dec. 29, 1921, in Ireton, Iowa, to Stuart and Edna (Brown) Brodie. Graduating from Le Mars High School in 1939, she enlisted in the Women's Army Corps in January 1943 and went on active duty Feb. 8, 1943. She served in Des Moines, Ft. Leonard Wood, Mo., and Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., going overseas to serve in England, France and Germany. She was honorably discharged in August 1945, having served 31 months.

While stationed in Des Moines, Bonnie met fellow serviceman, John Hassebroek, and they were married in a military wedding on Oct. 2, 1943, with her commanding officer as the matron of honor. Bonnie shipped overseas first, and John soon followed her. They gained national prominence by being subjects in a "Ripley's Believe It or Not" article describing how they unexpectedly met in France on the day and hour of their first wedding anniversary. Just one example of Bonnie's amazing life.

Bonnie was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church in Sioux City, serving as Sunday school teacher and Vacation Bible teacher, deaconess and member of Emily Stimson Circle. She was part of the First Pres Plum Pudding Project for years. As a deaconess, she visited many shut-ins. She cheered, made May baskets and hand washed a beautiful chandelier numerous times as part of her ministry. As Bonnie aged, her memory dimmed and her agility lessened; however, she continued to consistently beat her son-in-law at cards and daughter at Scrabble (insisting on only using the 1954 Official Scrabble Dictionary) and called her son daily, always being his best advocate. She usually had a sparkle in her eye and a cheerful comment on her lips.

Bonnie and John spent many happy times at their cabin at Lake Okoboji. As a grandmother, she was noted for making delicious cinnamon toast and always brought her grandchildren sugar cereal. She wore Estee Lauder's Youth Dew and was very fussy about her house ... but would let them eat popcorn (JollyTime, of course) in the living room as long as it was "one piece at a time."

Survivors include John, her husband, of almost 65 years; two children, Tom Hassebroek of Sioux City, and Valerie and husband, Jerry Vagts of St. Paul, Minn.; four grandchildren, Rachel, Amalia, Thatcher and wife, Kelly, Paul and wife, Indra; and two great-grandchildren, Kaya and Pierson; plus numerous loving nieces and nephews.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Helen, who died in infancy, Eva and husband, Jack Malone, Mabel and husband, Harley Hall; and a brother, Colin.