Bonnie J. Thaden

Funeral services for Bonnie J. Thaden, age 98, of Norfolk, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Norfolk. Reverend Caleb Wehling will officiate, with interment in Prospect Hill Cemetery in Norfolk. 

Visitation will be Monday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Home for Funerals Chapel, 708 Georgia Avenue in Norfolk, with a 7:00 p.m. Nebraska Nurse Honor Guard Ceremony and an Eastern Star Service.

Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of arrangements.

Bonnie passed away Monday, January 19, 2026, at Heritage of Bel Air in Norfolk. 

Bonnie Jane Thaden was born January 6, 1928, in Wausa, Nebraska. Her father, James B. Hammond, sold the Omaha World newspaper for living, while her mother, Mary Jane, was a homemaker. Bonnie attended Norfolk High School where she met her future husband, Val Thaden. She later attended St. Joseph’s Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City to achieve her dream of becoming a registered nurse and graduated in 1951.

During this time, her mother became ill with cancer and Bonnie mothered her younger sisters with the help of her aunt until her mother passed away. 

Her older brother, Blaine, a minister, married Bonnie and Val on June 8, 1952. Val completed his military training and schooling in electronics in the next few years and got a job at a local radio station. Bonnie continued with part-time nursing jobs as the couple raised four children, Valery, Clare, James, and Judith. 

In 1969, Val changed jobs to an electronics department at a college in western New York State. The family remained there until all four children were grown.

Bonnie was a very much an “I do what I want” sort of person, doing as she thought was best, including showing up when she pleased, setting her own fashion standards, and being the matriarch. 

Her grandkids knew her for sneaking them goldfish crackers at church, her knack for yard sale finds, and the random life advice. Her great-grandchildren cherished the hodge-podge packages she would send that always included stickers and silly sayings that relayed her whimsical tastes.

Bonnie and Val decided to return from New York to live in Norfolk, Nebraska in 2003, where they lived the rest of their lives. Val spent his final years in the care of the Stanton Nursing Home and passed on March 14, 2018.

Bonnie enjoyed living at home as long as she could until a few falls made closer supervision a wise choice. She moved into the Heritage of Bel Air in mid-March of 2025 and lived there the rest of her life. Bonnie celebrated her 98th birthday on January 6, 2026, but became ill with the flu and developed Bell’s Palsy. She was unable to fully recover and lost her battle rather unexpectedly on January 19, 2026, but was otherwise in good spirits. 

Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Val in 2018; her youngest daughter, Judith, who passed away unexpectedly on Friday, November 29, 2024; brother, Blaine Hammond; and sister Marcia Meisner.

She is survived by children, Valery (Robert) Reinke of New Jersey, Clare (Lonnie) Kleensang of Norfolk, and James Thaden (Lucy Sanchez) of Rochester, NY; granddaughter, Christina Landis of Hamburg, NY; grandson, Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Thaden, currently serving overseas; great-grandchildren, Brianna Mae and Hailey Rose Landis; sisters, Dawn (Jerry) Frederick of Oklahoma and Becky (Dean) James of South Dakota; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and many other beloved family members who have dearly loved this remarkable lady.

Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.homeforfuneralsinc.com.

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