Luretta L. Bonnell, age 91, of Waupaca, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Saturday, March 15, 2014.
She was born in Waupaca on January 10, 1923, to the late Leopold and Karen (Larsen) Zempel. After graduating from high school, she received a teachers normal degree from Wautoma. She was united in marriage to Ernest Marquard on August 24, 1946 and they were married for 41 years. On July 3, 1991 she married Dale Bonnell and they were married for three years. She was a homemaker for many years, was a super charger plant worker in Milwaukee and had also worked as a waitress, clerk and cashier. Luretta could be characterized as creative, determined, efficient, fair and humble. She was also very faithful and loved the Lord. She held various positions at First Baptist Church, served as Sunday school secretary and teacher for 20 years, acted as vice-president for ladies fellowship and was a teacher for Awana. Luretta also volunteered with the Waupaca Nutrition Site for 16 years, as receptionist, as well as serving and delivering food. Her hobbies included traveling (U.S., Mexico, Holy Land, Greece, to name a few), drawing, writing poems, reading, vegetable gardening, and housekeeping. Other interests included nature, family history, singing hymns, and visiting shut-ins and elderly.
She will be dearly missed by her children, Leland Marquard and Penny (James) Roerdink, both of Waupaca; grandchildren, Jennie Ellingson of Minneapolis, MN; Jacci (Zachary) Lutterman of Maple Grove, MN, and Michael Ellingson of Altoona; great-grandchildren, Layla Ellingson and Lincoln Lutterman. Luretta is further survived by a sister, Esther Suhs of Waupaca; and two sisters-in-law, Marguerite Zempel and Gladys Zempel, both of Waupaca. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Ernest Marquard; second husband, Dale Bonnell; brothers and sister, Franklin Zempel, Margaret (Charles) Kinison, and William Zempel.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Waupaca, with Rev. Larry Gross officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday evening at the Maple Crest Funeral Home from 4 until 6 p.m. and again on Thursday at the church from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. Burial will take place at Crystal Lake Cemetery at a later date.