Funeral services for Bonnie Kendall, 85, of Jefferson, will be 2:00pm Saturday January 23, 2010 at First United Methodist Church in Jefferson, with interment at Franklin Township Cemetery, Cooper, Iowa. 

Friends may call at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson after 11:00am Friday.  The family will greet friends at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson between 4:00 – 6:00pm Friday, followed by a 6:00pm B.P.O. Does Memorial Service which is open to the public. 

Survivors include her son, Rick Kendall of McCook, Nebraska; a daughter, Jeanie Taylor of Des Moines, Iowa; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

Bonnie Kendall, daughter of Edgar and Etta Wiggins was born on July 26, 1924 in Cooper, Iowa. Bonnie and her twin sister Betty, brother Herman, and sister Evelyn were raised on the family farm.

On September 12, 1943, Bonnie married Vinton Kendall.  They raised two children; a son, R. Richard “Rick” and a daughter, Betty Jean.

Anyone who knew Bonnie knew she was a worker.  After graduating from Cooper High School, Bonnie took a bank position where she worked for several years.  She was later offered (and accepted) a position with the Farmers Home Administration.  Her first promotion came with the stipulation that she learn shorthand. She purchased a book and completed that course as required.   The best way to describe her impressive career is to list her accomplishments:
            County Office Clerk-1958
            County Office Assistant
            Office Management Assistant (OMA)
            Program Review Assistant (PRA) 1967
            EEO Counselor -12 years
            CAR Team Member in Illinois -1975
            Trained OMA from Nebraska-1977
            Federal Women’s Program Coordinator
            Equal Housing Opportunity Officer
            State Coordinator for EDPA and OCR
            Problem Case Coordinator 1983-1994
            National Employee of the Year-1988
            CAR Team Member in Washington, D.C.-1994
            Special Assistant to the State Director
A retirement party was held in her honor with a buffet dinner and over 100 guests, including State and District officials were present. A letter from President Clinton was read.

Bonnie was passionate about gardening.  Her pond and amazing garden were loved by many in the Jefferson community. She could grow just about anything.  She was always working outside in her yard and she loved every minute of it.  Many of Bonnie’s hours were spent actively involved in the Methodist Church of Jefferson.  Bonnie was on the finance and funeral lunch committees.  Bonnie was involved in her community. She was a Does member.  She loved to spend time with her family and friends, going to dinner at restaurants, and socializing.

She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, brother, and her husband, Vinton in 1979.

Bonnie is survived by her son R. Richard “Rick” Kendall and his wife Jean of McCook, NE. Her daughter Betty Jean Taylor of Des Moines.  Four grandchildren: Nicolle Schieffer and husband Jason of Niles, IL.; Michael Kendall and wife Michelle of Chicago, IL.; Grandsons Adam Taylor and Justin Taylor of Des Moines. Five great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.