Bonnie Pals

Bonnie Marie Pals, 81, passed away on March 28, 2024 in Waverly, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Bonnie will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on Friday, April 19, 2024, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 139 3rd Street South East, in Britt.  Burial will follow at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Duncan.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 18, 2024, at Ewing Funeral Home, 178 Center Street West, in Britt, with a Rosary and Reflections beginning at 7:00 PM.

Bonnie was born in Duncan, Iowa on February 28, 1943 to Raymond and Dorothy (Trca) Kopacek. She grew up on the family farm and attended Britt High School. While in high school, she participated in dance competitions around North Iowa. After high school she raised her family in Britt. Sundays were often spent on the farm with her children, parents, and siblings; or visiting aunts, uncles, and cousins nearby. Bonnie was a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who showed her love through hand-written cards and letters, long phone calls, shared laughter, and food - especially ‘Bonnie’s Baked Beans,’ bran muffins, and monster cookies.

A woman of faith, she was an involved member of the St. Patrick Catholic Church, serving on Parish Council; supporting fellow parishioners and fostering her own spirituality through Catholic Daughters of the Americas and Rosary Guild; teaching Religious Education; sharing the Word of God as a Lector and singing in the choir. Bonnie lived the lessons she wanted her children to learn: be grateful for what you’ve been given, do your best with what you have, share your gifts with others, and find the good in people and situations.

Bonnie was a dedicated employee, working at Kelly Real Estate for forty years. She retired in 2019.

Bonnie lived most of her life in Britt, Iowa and was proud of her hometown. She enjoyed playing cards with friends; delighted in the bright colors of her flower beds; and was committed to her daily walk, often picking up trash along the way. She enjoyed dances at Duncan Hall, cheering for the Minnesota Twins, and was an active supporter of West Hancock High School sports.

She enjoyed the community activities and caring staff at Summit House in Britt. As her dementia progressed and she needed memory support and skilled nursing, Bonnie moved to Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly, Iowa. She spent her final months surrounded by their warm and compassionate care.

Surviving family members include her children: Shawn Foy and his wife Lori of Elko, MN; Chris Foy and his wife Mary of Waverly, IA; Natalie Tegtmeyer and her husband Dan of Chandler, AZ; Eric Foy and his wife Kim of Dubuque, IA; Tony Foy and his wife Carey Norgaard of Eugene, OR; Nicole Varnado and her husband Brandon of Durham, NC; and Joel Pals and his wife Tiffany of Belmond, IA; twenty-five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a brother, Tom Kopacek and his wife Jenny of Brooklyn, Park, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Beverly Hiscocks and Mary Ann Kopacek; brother Rev. Jerry Kopacek; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bonnie’s memory to St. Patrick Catholic Church in Britt or the West Hancock Schools.