Bonnie Jacobs, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, great grandmother and friend, passed on, Monday, Dec. 6, 2021, at her residence of six years at Wayside House in Victoria, BC. Her given name was Myrtle Leona Bonham, but she received the nickname of Bonnie by fellow WRENS during her naval WWII service. The name stuck, and she was thereafter known to most as Bonnie. She was born in Calgary, AB in 1924 to parents Alexander and Ada Bonham. Her father passed at her young age of 9 years, leaving her mother a widow with 4 children on a small farm near Cremona, AB. At 18 years of age she joined the Royal Canadian Navy and headed east. It was during the war years that she met a sailor, G Fred Jacobs, and they were married in Halifax in 1946. Bonnie and Fred were in a very happy relationship for 66 years, spending time in Calgary, DeWinton, then back to Calgary before moving to Red Deer in 1999. Bonnie moved to Victoria in 2015.
Bonnie lived her life to love – family, neighbours, strangers, animals. She lived love and joy and maintained a sense of humour to her final days on this earth.
Always a lover of horses, in 1962 she chose to help a friend operate a summer riding camp near Water Valley, AB, taking her family with her. They all became an integral part of the camp that ran successfully for 50 years. Her decision to be involved in this activity, had a great deal of influence on the shaping of the character of her family.
Bonnie loved God and her daily prayers guided her all of her life. Her relationship to God helped her maintain joy in her attitude each day. A page from the Christian Science hymnal (#324) was found among her many reference pages she studied regularly. “Take my life, and let it be, consecrated Lord to Thee…Take my hands, and let them move, at the impulse of Thy love.”
She loved all of her family dearly. She is survived by her three children, eight grandchildren and 25+ great grandchildren.
Garry (Sandy) Jacobs of Red Deer, AB, and their children - Jodyne (Erin) Jacobs of Strathmore, AB, Garett (Hilary) Jacobs of New Zealand, Leif (Shari) Andersen of Red Deer, AB, and Robin (Gustavo) Flores of Red Deer, AB.
Jackie (Jim) Anderson of Rimbey, AB, and their children - Jeff (Danielle) Anderson of Airdrie, AB, and Brendon (Melanie) Anderson of Rimbey, AB,
Stan (Joanne) Jacobs of Barriere, BC, and their children - Megan (Tim) Franke of Knutsford, BC, Cameron (Trina) Jacobs of Knutsford, BC, Trisha (Derek) Graham of Calgary, AB, Robert (Jennifer) Campbell of Sexsmith, AB, and Jessica (Shaun) Cudmore of Okotoks, AB.
Bonnie was pre-deceased by her husband and all of their siblings.
Donations can be made, if desired, to Wayside House, 550 Foul Bay Road, Victoria, BC V8S 4H1. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18