Bonnie Joann Vredenburg

Bonnie graduated from Manhattan High School in 1957. In the fall, she entered St. Luke’s Hospital School of Nursing in Kansas City, Missouri, to train to become a Registered Nurse. It is while she was attending school that she met her future husband, Jim Vredenburg, on a blind date. They were married on June 4, 1960, in Kansas City, Missouri.

Bonnie loved both children and animals. During childhood, she had a multitude of pets that she took care of. All of the family pets were definitely hers. She also loved children. One of her favorite activities was to bake chocolate chip cookies with her grandchildren, although few of the cookies ever made it to the oven.

Bonnie’s caring and loving nature made her an excellent nurse. Bonnie’s career encompassed many areas of nursing. Her first job was in the college clinic at Kansas State University. As the family grew, Bonnie took nursing jobs at clinics, nursing homes and private practices. While the family was in Germany, she worked in the military clinic taking care of the soldiers and their dependents. When the family moved to Arlington, she took a job as the head nurse at the Oakwood Nursing Center. After that, she became the head nurse for one of the first minor emergency centers in Arlington. Before retiring in 1996, she worked in private family practice.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Lois Schneeflock and brother Charles Smith Jr.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Jim Vredenburg; daughters Teresa DeRudder (Dave), Karen Medina (John) and Joann Johnson (Duane); son James Vredenburg (Tiffany); brother Dale Smith (Wanda Lee); grandchildren Cody DeRudder, Taylor DeRudder, Madison Medina, Chase Johnson (Ruby), Casey Johnson and Chad Vredenburg (Jessica).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, June 16, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church; 5819 W. Pleasant Ridge Rd; Arlington, TX 76016, followed by Inurnment at Moore Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o Bill Pacilio, 1801 Ridgeside Drive, Arlington, TX 76013-4248, or the National Kidney Foundation, 5429 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas, TX 75240.