Bonnie Aardema

In as much as she gave, Bonnie Aardema was loved abundantly and cherished in the hearts of many. An energetic woman who found joy and contentment in her beautiful gardens, she was just as ambitious and dedicated in all she did. Bonnie lived true to her heart. She followed her dreams, and through them she became a devoted and loving wife and mother, and an intuitive teacher and counselor. She found pleasure living on the land she loved, and lived fully at every opportunity, and with no regrets. Although sadly missed, the legacy Bonnie leaves behind will continue to spark memories of a well loved and admired woman.

The end of World War II found many returning home to their sweethearts and beginning families of their own in newly developed suburbs. Technology was at an all-time high, business was booming, and the "baby-boom" was off and running. Amidst these promising times, Donald Jay and Sylvia Belle (Carrier) Timmer shared exciting news of their own on February 22, 1946 as they welcomed the birth of their little girl, Bonnie Lee.

Born and raised in Holland, Michigan, Bonnie also joined her older sister, Sandra. She enjoyed a childhood typical of the times, and grew up with the most wonderful cats. From her earliest beginnings, Bonnie possessed an outgoing and musical nature. Having been raised in a very musical family, they often danced and performed together. Together they enjoyed many camping trips over the years, and attempted visiting all 50 states. Through these exciting times, Bonnie developed a great love for travel.

Bonnie's warm and fun-loving personality naturally drew others to her side. She enjoyed the friendships of many throughout her school days, and caught the attention of one of her classmates in particular. During high school and beyond, Bonnie served as a music teacher and played the organ at Beechwood Reformed Church in Holland. After graduating from West Ottawa High School in 1964, she enrolled at Hope College where she furthered her education. Bonnie was just as smart as she was pretty. A well poised young woman, she carried herself with grace and also went on to become Miss Holland in 1964.

There were many good things to come for Bonnie, and one of them included Robert John Aardema. Robert had had his eye on Bonnie since the ninth grade, but never had the courage to ask her out. Two weeks after high school, Bonnie and Robert shared their first date at the Musical Fountain in Grand Haven along with two mutual friends. It was the beginning of many more times together sharing their dreams and hopes for the future.

Bonnie received her Bachelor's degree in Art from Hope College and secured a job as an art teacher. Deeply in love, she and Robert were happily married on July 27, 1968 at Beechwood Reformed Church. They honeymooned on the east coast and through Niagara Falls before returning home to Holland to begin their new life together.

The following spring, Bob enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. For the next six years, Bonnie remained at his side as they moved from base to base, including Florida, California, Washington, and Maine. They experienced much throughout these years and made lasting memories along the way. They eventually settled at Pease Air Force Base in New Hampshire. During this time, Bonnie concentrated on earning her Master's degree in Counseling at the University of New Hampshire. With her Master's in hand, Bonnie was eager to begin a family of their own. In 1973 they welcomed the birth of Michael, and Andrew soon followed.

After returning to Michigan in 1975, Bonnie and her family made their home in Kalamazoo where she entered the Doctoral program at Western Michigan University. Her ambition and drive kept her quite busy, but her knack for being highly organized kept her professional and personal life running smoothly. She took on a few part-time jobs along with school, all while raising her boys with loving and attentive care.

Having completed her Doctoral program, Bonnie earned her E.D.D., graduating in 1984 after publishing her dissertation titled The Therapeutic Use of Hope. For over 30 years, Bonnie worked as a psychologist in her own private practice where she was highly respected in her field.

On the home front, Bonnie was in her glory. She had endless amounts of patience with her sons and all their motor toys, and always helped them with homework. She supported them in all their endeavors, and welcomed their friends with open arms. They eventually made their forever home on seven acres located on 2nd Street. Bonnie loved their property and the wide open spaces it provided. They especially chose this property for the grass landing strip behind their house. With Bob as her pilot, she loved riding in the plane with him while capturing spectacular aerial photos.

Bonnie loved the culture of Kalamazoo. She liked the performances at Miller Auditorium, and for a time she and Bob even took dance lessons. During summer vacations or for long weekends, they often took in their love for Saugatuck where Bonnie enjoyed shopping. Over the last ten years, Bonnie and Bob enjoyed several cruises during Spring break. They always enjoyed sharing their home with family and friends during the holidays, especially Christmas Eve where everyone sang carols and shared reading of The Night Before Christmas. Bonnie was the ultimate hostess, but never cared much for cooking. She continued her love of and appreciation for music, and from classical to Michael Jackson hits, she played the piano beautifully. Anyone could put music before Bonnie and she could easily play it well.

Bonnie enjoyed nothing more than sitting on her deck with a glass of wine, watching the birds, animals and sometimes airplanes go by. She loved their home and property, specifically the remarkable privacy it offered. She truly enjoyed being outdoors there and feeding the goldfish in their pond. Walking and working in her gardens always brought Bonnie peace of mind. She faithfully tended to her three Zen gardens and a piano garden (shaped like a grand piano). It was difficult for Bonnie to take a day off as she continually kept very busy and had many projects at home. She remained a beauty, inside and out, and with her penchant for clothing, she consistently looked great no matter what she was doing. Always one to be resourceful, she was an enthusiastic, driving force behind the beauty of the place she called home.

Even following her cancer diagnosis in April of 2012, Bonnie continued to work on home projects and dedicated herself to her clients until the very end. With the help of hospice and her family, she kept focused and continued on which served as her therapy. She was so excited for the upcoming birth of her first grandchild, and remained hopeful to see that day. Throughout this time, Bonnie was the loving and devoted woman everyone knew her to be. One of a kind, Bonnie accomplished much in her career and in her life as a devoted wife, dedicated mother, and vibrant friend. She gave her all and then some, until the very last.

At the age of 68, Dr. Bonnie Lee Aardema, of Kalamazoo, died at home on Tuesday, October 28, 2014. Members of her family include her husband of 46 years, Robert John Aardema; two sons: Michael Kelly (Charlia) Aardema and Andrew John (Shannon) Aardema; a grandchild expected in January; sister, Sandra Kay Plakke; in-laws: Tom and Judy Aardema and Maggie Aardema; many nieces and nephews. Services will be held Sunday, November 2, 2014, 4:00 PM at Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo 375-2900 followed by a reception in the Life Story Center. Please visit Bonnie’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a favorite memory or photo and sign her guestbook before coming to the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.