Bonnie J Heinrichs

Bonita Joan Heinrichs, 85, of Goessel, Kansas passed away Sunday, August 14, 2022 at Schowalter Villa. Bonnie was born on June 21, 1937. She was the first child of Otto J. and Martha C. (Schmidt) Unruh. She was born at the Newton Hospital and grew up on a farm near Goessel, KS. Her parents lived on several rental farms around Goessel and eventually moved to her father’s family farm east of Goessel. Bonnie attended school at Green Valley District 32 in Marion County and graduated from Goessel High School in 1955. Her first job was as a floor girl at Bethesda Hospital in Goessel. She met Lowell Heinrichs while they were both attending Goessel High School. Lowell and Bonnie were married on June 1, 1956 at the Tabor Mennonite Church near Goessel, KS. During that time, Reverend H. B. Schmidt was advising young couples getting married to go into 1-W service. Lowell and Bonnie moved to Evanston, Illinois where they both worked as nurse aids. After two years of 1-W service, Lowell & Bonnie moved home to Hillsboro, KS where Bonnie worked at home and Lowell took a job at The Hillsboro Body Shop. They lived in several different rental houses before buying their first home on South Ash Street in Hillsboro, KS. Two sons were born to them. Romney was born in the Evanston Hospital in Illinois and Kendall was born in the Bethesda Hospital in Goessel, KS. In 1970, Bonnie & Lowell purchased and moved to the farm east of Goessel where the boys grew up and attended school. In 1969, Bonnie started attending Tabor College in Hillsboro and graduated in 1972 with a degree in English & German language. She attended Emporia State University for two summers and in the fall of 1973, accepted a job as librarian in the Remington/Whitewater School District. She was in charge of five small school libraries, a different school each day of the week. In 1974, she became the librarian at Goessel USD 411 as the secondary level librarian. For the next 24 years she was the librarian at Goessel High School. She again took classes at Emporia State University during the summers and in 1983 received a Master’s Degree in Special Education & Learning Disabilities. During her time at GHS Bonnie was also the Junior class sponsor for many years which was an interesting and enjoyable time working with students outside of the classroom. Bonnie grew up in the Tabor Mennonite Church, was baptized on June 6, 1954 by Reverend H.B. Schmidt, and was an active member until her death. She enjoyed teaching Sunday school, vacation bible school, and being a member of the Willing Helpers Sewing Society. She was also church librarian and archivist for many years. Bonnie enjoyed reading, gardening, embroidery, and quilt making. She enjoyed raising flowers and plants in her greenhouse from which she also contributed plants & flowers to the MCC sale in Hutchinson, KS. Lowell & Bonnie enjoyed trips to visit family and also camping and fishing trips with family and friends. Bonnie enjoyed playing and working with her grandchildren and enjoyed having family over for the holidays. Lowell & Bonnie took an Alaskan Cruise with their children & grandchildren for their 50th wedding anniversary. Bonnie & Lowell enjoyed living on the farm until March 2020 when they moved to the Lakeside Apartments in Hesston, KS. There Bonnie continued to fill her time with plants, flowers, & lots of reading. Bonnie lived at the Schowalter Villa Health Care Center at the time of her passing. Bonnie is survived by her son, Romney (Donna) Heinrichs, grandchildren, Andrew & Katrina of Hesston, KS; son, Kendall (Jana) Heinrichs, grandchildren, Vanessa & Logan of Wichita, KS; brother, Robert (Connie) Unruh of Newton, KS; sister, Mae (Dean) Nelson of McPherson, KS; and sister, Elaine (John) Ratzlaff of Buhler, KS. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lowell Heinrichs; parents, Otto & Martha Unruh; and infant twin brothers. Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 24, 2022 at Tabor Mennonite Church, rural Newton. Memorial contributions may be made to Tabor Mennonite Church or Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in care of Miller-Ott Funeral Home, PO Box 32, Hesston, KS 67062.

Bonnie J Heinrichs

June 21, 1937 - August 14, 2022