ELK HORN – Carl Gunnar Bonnesen, on of J. Fred and Petrea (Christensen)
Bonnesen, was born Aug. 5, 1907, at Hamlin. He was baptized and confirmed in the
Lutheran Church at Kimballton. He lived with his family just south of town. He attended
rural school across the fence from his home and then graduated from Elk Horn High
School in 1925. He attended one semester at Grand View College in Des Moines before
completing his college education at Capitol City Community College in Chicago, graduating
in the top ten in his class.
May 6, 1931, Carl married Elsie Marit Leistad at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. They
had one daughter, Patricia Ann. The family lived in Elk Horn where Carl started in business
as a subcontractor in Trowel Trades. During World War II, from 1944 - 1945, he
served in the United States Navy in the South Pacific. Following his honorable discharge
from the Navy, he returned to his family and business in Elk Horn. He was a well-known
mason in Elk Horn and surrounding communities. Many buildings in the area attest to his
skills. He retired in 1973.
Carl was a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church and served on the Council and
as chairman of the Building Committee when the new church was built. He was elected
president of the Council in 1959 when the Sunday School addition was constructed. He
later served on the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery Board. He was very active in the community,
helping build the swimming pool, tennis courts and Danish Windmill where he
served on the Mill Board. Later in his life he took care of the flags on Main Street and
held memberships in the Better Elk Horn Club and Optimist Club. In 1994, Elsie entered
Salem Lutheran Home. Carl remained in their home for close to another two years before
he joined his wife of 73 years. When his health began to fail he was transferred to
Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, NE, where he died Aug. 13, 2004, at age 97 years
and eight days.
Preceding Carl in death are his parents; brother, Folmer Bonnesen; and sister, Erna
Stanskov/Klever. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Bonnesen of Salem Lutheran Home;
daughter, Patricia Ann (Jerry) Blake of Ankeny; two grandchildren, Todd Christensen
(Jennipher) of Denver, CO and Marla (Matt) Trosper of West Des Moines; great-grandson,
Maxwell Carl Christensen of Denver, CO; sister-in-law, Martha Bonnesen of Elk
Horn; and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Aug. 17, 2004, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church with
Pastor Larry Lystig officiating. Burial was in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery with graveside
military rites by the American Legion Post 322. Casket bearers were Leroy Pedersen,
Richard Bonnesen, John Leistad, Arnold Gude, Galan Johannsen and Warren Jacobsen.
Ohde Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Bonnesen, was born Aug. 5, 1907, at Hamlin. He was baptized and confirmed in the
Lutheran Church at Kimballton. He lived with his family just south of town. He attended
rural school across the fence from his home and then graduated from Elk Horn High
School in 1925. He attended one semester at Grand View College in Des Moines before
completing his college education at Capitol City Community College in Chicago, graduating
in the top ten in his class.
May 6, 1931, Carl married Elsie Marit Leistad at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. They
had one daughter, Patricia Ann. The family lived in Elk Horn where Carl started in business
as a subcontractor in Trowel Trades. During World War II, from 1944 - 1945, he
served in the United States Navy in the South Pacific. Following his honorable discharge
from the Navy, he returned to his family and business in Elk Horn. He was a well-known
mason in Elk Horn and surrounding communities. Many buildings in the area attest to his
skills. He retired in 1973.
Carl was a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church and served on the Council and
as chairman of the Building Committee when the new church was built. He was elected
president of the Council in 1959 when the Sunday School addition was constructed. He
later served on the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery Board. He was very active in the community,
helping build the swimming pool, tennis courts and Danish Windmill where he
served on the Mill Board. Later in his life he took care of the flags on Main Street and
held memberships in the Better Elk Horn Club and Optimist Club. In 1994, Elsie entered
Salem Lutheran Home. Carl remained in their home for close to another two years before
he joined his wife of 73 years. When his health began to fail he was transferred to
Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, NE, where he died Aug. 13, 2004, at age 97 years
and eight days.
Preceding Carl in death are his parents; brother, Folmer Bonnesen; and sister, Erna
Stanskov/Klever. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Bonnesen of Salem Lutheran Home;
daughter, Patricia Ann (Jerry) Blake of Ankeny; two grandchildren, Todd Christensen
(Jennipher) of Denver, CO and Marla (Matt) Trosper of West Des Moines; great-grandson,
Maxwell Carl Christensen of Denver, CO; sister-in-law, Martha Bonnesen of Elk
Horn; and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Aug. 17, 2004, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church with
Pastor Larry Lystig officiating. Burial was in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery with graveside
military rites by the American Legion Post 322. Casket bearers were Leroy Pedersen,
Richard Bonnesen, John Leistad, Arnold Gude, Galan Johannsen and Warren Jacobsen.
Ohde Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
ELK HORN – Carl Gunnar Bonnesen, on of J. Fred and Petrea (Christensen)
Bonnesen, was born Aug. 5, 1907, at Hamlin. He was baptized and confirmed in the
Lutheran Church at Kimballton. He lived with his family just south of town. He attended
rural school across the fence from his home and then graduated from Elk Horn High
School in 1925. He attended one semester at Grand View College in Des Moines before
completing his college education at Capitol City Community College in Chicago, graduating
in the top ten in his class.
May 6, 1931, Carl married Elsie Marit Leistad at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. They
had one daughter, Patricia Ann. The family lived in Elk Horn where Carl started in business
as a subcontractor in Trowel Trades. During World War II, from 1944 - 1945, he
served in the United States Navy in the South Pacific. Following his honorable discharge
from the Navy, he returned to his family and business in Elk Horn. He was a well-known
mason in Elk Horn and surrounding communities. Many buildings in the area attest to his
skills. He retired in 1973.
Carl was a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church and served on the Council and
as chairman of the Building Committee when the new church was built. He was elected
president of the Council in 1959 when the Sunday School addition was constructed. He
later served on the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery Board. He was very active in the community,
helping build the swimming pool, tennis courts and Danish Windmill where he
served on the Mill Board. Later in his life he took care of the flags on Main Street and
held memberships in the Better Elk Horn Club and Optimist Club. In 1994, Elsie entered
Salem Lutheran Home. Carl remained in their home for close to another two years before
he joined his wife of 73 years. When his health began to fail he was transferred to
Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, NE, where he died Aug. 13, 2004, at age 97 years
and eight days.
Preceding Carl in death are his parents; brother, Folmer Bonnesen; and sister, Erna
Stanskov/Klever. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Bonnesen of Salem Lutheran Home;
daughter, Patricia Ann (Jerry) Blake of Ankeny; two grandchildren, Todd Christensen
(Jennipher) of Denver, CO and Marla (Matt) Trosper of West Des Moines; great-grandson,
Maxwell Carl Christensen of Denver, CO; sister-in-law, Martha Bonnesen of Elk
Horn; and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Aug. 17, 2004, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church with
Pastor Larry Lystig officiating. Burial was in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery with graveside
military rites by the American Legion Post 322. Casket bearers were Leroy Pedersen,
Richard Bonnesen, John Leistad, Arnold Gude, Galan Johannsen and Warren Jacobsen.
Ohde Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Bonnesen, was born Aug. 5, 1907, at Hamlin. He was baptized and confirmed in the
Lutheran Church at Kimballton. He lived with his family just south of town. He attended
rural school across the fence from his home and then graduated from Elk Horn High
School in 1925. He attended one semester at Grand View College in Des Moines before
completing his college education at Capitol City Community College in Chicago, graduating
in the top ten in his class.
May 6, 1931, Carl married Elsie Marit Leistad at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church. They
had one daughter, Patricia Ann. The family lived in Elk Horn where Carl started in business
as a subcontractor in Trowel Trades. During World War II, from 1944 - 1945, he
served in the United States Navy in the South Pacific. Following his honorable discharge
from the Navy, he returned to his family and business in Elk Horn. He was a well-known
mason in Elk Horn and surrounding communities. Many buildings in the area attest to his
skills. He retired in 1973.
Carl was a member of the Elk Horn Lutheran Church and served on the Council and
as chairman of the Building Committee when the new church was built. He was elected
president of the Council in 1959 when the Sunday School addition was constructed. He
later served on the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery Board. He was very active in the community,
helping build the swimming pool, tennis courts and Danish Windmill where he
served on the Mill Board. Later in his life he took care of the flags on Main Street and
held memberships in the Better Elk Horn Club and Optimist Club. In 1994, Elsie entered
Salem Lutheran Home. Carl remained in their home for close to another two years before
he joined his wife of 73 years. When his health began to fail he was transferred to
Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, NE, where he died Aug. 13, 2004, at age 97 years
and eight days.
Preceding Carl in death are his parents; brother, Folmer Bonnesen; and sister, Erna
Stanskov/Klever. He is survived by his wife, Elsie Bonnesen of Salem Lutheran Home;
daughter, Patricia Ann (Jerry) Blake of Ankeny; two grandchildren, Todd Christensen
(Jennipher) of Denver, CO and Marla (Matt) Trosper of West Des Moines; great-grandson,
Maxwell Carl Christensen of Denver, CO; sister-in-law, Martha Bonnesen of Elk
Horn; and other relatives.
Funeral services were held Aug. 17, 2004, at the Elk Horn Lutheran Church with
Pastor Larry Lystig officiating. Burial was in the Elk Horn Lutheran Cemetery with graveside
military rites by the American Legion Post 322. Casket bearers were Leroy Pedersen,
Richard Bonnesen, John Leistad, Arnold Gude, Galan Johannsen and Warren Jacobsen.
Ohde Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
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