Bonnie Van Gronigen

Born in Oak Park, Illinois, Bonnie raised three daughters in Roselle, Illinois, before moving to Tucson in 1989.

Bonnie was blessed in life with an extraordinarily special bond with her siblings, Diane and David. Their bond was created amidst the hard times, laughs and shenanigans that occurred while growing up on Harrison Street. And that bond was treasured by each of them throughout their lifetimes.

Bonnie was a friend to all that knew her. She had a very generous heart and especially loved all of God’s creatures. She was blessed with an amazing artistic talent, was very creative and was sometimes a bit goofy.

Her grandchildren have fond memories of Bonnie teaching them to make stuffed animals fly using a ceiling fan and her children will always remember her yearly quest to blow up the mailbox on the Fourth of July.

Those that had the privilege to share a meal at Bonnie’s table know she was a great cook with a talent for baking. She showed her love to others through her cooking. There was no special occasion that wasn’t celebrated without a special edible gift from Bonnie to the ones she loved.

In her younger years, Bonnie loved to sew and used her amazing artistic talent to create beauty in her surroundings. Of all her creations, the most beautiful were her flower gardens. Using odds and ends and turning pairings of drift wood, rocks and flowers into living works of art, her flower gardens were a place where she could celebrate and appreciate nature and lose herself in God’s beauty.

Her family and all that loved her know there was only one Bonnie. Through her unique spirit, she showed them a different perspective, sometimes shocked them and always remained true to herself. In choosing to share her life with them, she taught them much about love, laughter and beauty.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her father, Daniel Van Gronigen, her mother, Emily (nee Lucas) Van Gronigen and her brother, David (Leanne) Van Gronigen - whom she was so looking forward to seeing again.

She is survived by her daughters, Therese (Daniel) Mahoney, Laura (Anthony) Argentine and Deanna Gamberdine, her sister, Diane (Edward) Vanover and her six grandchildren; Sarah, Jack, Alyssa, Colin, Johnny and Angela. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews who all have many good childhood memories of their Aunt Bonnie.

Bonnie’s remains will be scattered in the Memorial Garden at East Lawn Palms Cemetery in Tucson, Arizona.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Devon Gables Healthcare Center for their loving care and friendship to Bonnie in her final years.