Margaret Bonjour

MARGARET M. BONJOUR

Olin

Margaret M. Bonjour, 88, of Olin, died on Dec. 8, 2016, at Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa, Iowa, following a fall caused by Parkinson's disease and subsequent brief illness. Visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Dec. 11, at Lahey Funeral Home in Olin, with funeral services following at 3 p.m. and interment at Antioch Cemetery in rural Anamosa.

Margaret Matilda Oltmann was born on Feb. 5, 1928, in Anamosa, the third of five children born to William J. and Matie (Dirks) Oltmann Jr. She was baptized on March 28, 1928, and was confirmed with her brother, Roger, on April 6, 1941, both at Wayne Zion Lutheran Church in rural Monticello, Iowa. Margaret grew up on the farm in Cass Township and attended Cass Township School No. 6 (Frog Hollow) through the eighth grade. She did not immediately attend high school so that she could help her mother take care of her newborn twin siblings, Fay and May, for the next four years, and also help on the farm. Margaret began high school in 1946 when the school buses starting running in the country, and graduated in three years in 1949 from Anamosa High School. She had many relatives, including 69 first cousins.

Margaret worked for the Maquoketa Valley Rural Electric Cooperative in Anamosa as a receptionist, billing and crediting clerk and machine operator from 1949 until January 1953. During this time, she was a pitcher for the Blue Cap softball team. She then attended the Electronic Radio-Television Institute in Omaha, Neb., for three months, where she completed training in airline communications and received her diploma on March 27, 1953. Margaret returned to Anamosa and worked at Westphal's Grocery for a few months before working as a telephone operator at Northwestern Bell for 2½ years. She then worked at Collins Radio in Anamosa and Cedar Rapids for two years. During this decade, she was active in the Anamosa Bowling League.

Margaret married Leo Bonjour on Aug. 8, 1959, at the Evangelical United Brethren Church (later known as St. Paul's United Methodist Church) in Olin by the Rev. Lloyd Dutro. They farmed together in the Newport Mills area for 24 years. She served as a 4-H leader for the Jackson Wise Owls and on the Jones County 4-H Committee, and at St. Paul's United Methodist Church she served on several committees, was active in the Ladies Aid, was the Children's Sunday School superintendent, and was the administrative board secretary for many years. She also was an active member of the Antioch Social Circle, a member of Calico Quilters, and served as secretary and treasurer on the Wapsi Manor Board. Margaret and Leo retired from farming in 1983, but remained on the farm until moving into Olin in 1999. After retirement, she spent much of her time making quilts and cross-stitching, playing cards and board games, and doing word searches, crossword puzzles and sudoku. Her quilts are treasured by her children and grandchildren. Margaret and Leo joined the Morley United Methodist Church in June 2012. They were honored as the grand marshals in the Olin Jamboree parade in June 2015.

She is survived by her son, Edmond (Rose) Bonjour of Stillwater, Okla., and their children, Sophia of Carbondale, Ill., and Ean of Stillwater; her daughter, Renee (Mike) Bennett, and their children, Collin, Blake and Brent of Little Rock, Ark.; her brother, Fay Oltmann of Anamosa; and many other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Roger, in 1981; and her sisters, Nadine Blythe in 1984 and May Clark in 2005.

Memorials may be given in her memory to the Morley United Methodist Church.