Bonnie Lou Klanderman

Bonnie Lou (Hillstead) Klanderman, age 78, of Woodville, WI, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family after a short, courageous battle with cancer. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Zion Lutheran Church in Woodville.

Visitation is Friday, May 22, 2026, from 4-7 at Zion Lutheran Church Woodville and one hour prior to the service on Saturday.

Memorial service is Saturday, May 23, at 11 a.m. at Zion Lutheran Church.  Burial was in Lone Pine Cemetery, Woodville. 

Bonnie was born on September 23, 1947, to Edgar and Millie (Tollefson) Hillstead. She graduated from Baldwin-Woodville High School in 1965. She was united in marriage on June 21, 1975, to her high-school sweetheart, Bob. Their union was blessed with two children, Dustin and Denise.

Bonnie worked at Citizen’s State Bank in Woodville for 17 years after high school. In 1984, she worked & ran the family dairy farm after the passing of her parents and took this on with willingness and pride. She was told many times, “You could eat off the floor in her dairy barn.” Bonnie began working at Sons Tool Inc in Woodville in 1989 with 3 of her sisters, then auctioning off the cattle in 1990, and continued to work at Sons Tool for the next 22 years. She retired in 2011 anticipating her favorite career yet being a full-time Nana/Grandma. Bonnie continued to do this for the next 14 years helping to raise, educate and enjoy her four youngest grandchildren to the fullest.

Bonnie had an immense passion for flower gardening and birds. There wasn’t a bird that she couldn’t tell you the name of, what to feed them and when they were nesting. She watched all her gardening shows and could tell you what plant goes best where and the best time to plant them. This was a love passed onto both her children and grandchildren. All the grandchildren knew the name of each songbird by the time they entered kindergarten.  Her love for farming and cattle was passed along to her son, Dustin, who now resides on the home farm with his family, raising beef cattle and keeping the memories of the home place alive.

 Above all, the love for her grandchildren was unwavering. Nana/Grandma never missed a game, tournament, 4-H showings or school concert until she recently fell ill. Even then, she watched all the videos of performances she could.

Proceeding her in death were her parents: Edgar and Millie Hillstead, brothers: Edward (Lee) Hillstead, Duane Hillstead, sisters: Marilyn (Ron) Zillmer, Karen (Greg)Riley, brother-in-law: Scott Ducklow, mother and father in-law: Vern and Alice “Bunchy” Klanderman, sister-in-law: Jane Mikla, nephew: Paxton Rasmussen, and great-niece: Kayla Stone.

Bonnie is survived by her husband of 50 years: Bob, son: Dustin (Jenny), daughter: Denise (Curt), sister: Dianne Ducklow, brothers-in-law: Roger (Roz) Klanderman, Dick Klanderman, Jim Mikla. Grandchildren: Blake, Owen, Max, Alayna, Louella, Willow and Avery along with bonus soon-to-be grandchildren: Braden, Jack and Liam. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews, great-nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. She will be dearly missed.

Memorials are preferred.

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