Bonnie Wochnick, 96, Owatonna
Bonnette ‘Bonnie’ Jeanne (Broughten) Wochnick, age 96, of Owatonna, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022.
Bonnie was born Memorial Day, May 30, 1926, in Blooming Grove Township, Waseca County. Her parents were Lars and Etta (Soule) Broughten. As quoted in her mother’s journal, “It was six o’clock in the morning and the birds welcomed her coming with song, the sun was shining, the beginning of a beautiful day.”
Bonnie attended country school (through eighth grade) and then attended Waseca Central High School, graduating in 1944, and played the violin in the Waseca High School orchestra. Her granddaughter's husband, Eric, had it restored (hopefully someone will learn to play it in the future). Having completed a commercial course during high school, she went on to work as a stenographer, and later as an executive secretary. For many years she was employed with the Minnesota Department of Employment Security in Faribault and Owatonna, then 15 years as administrative secretary at the Owatonna City Hospital. She also worked as deputy clerk at the Steele County District Court, until her retirement in 1988.
On Feb. 3, 1948, she married Felix J. Wochnick in Deerfield at Corpus Christie Catholic Church. Since moving to Owatonna in 1955, she has been a member of Sacred Heart Church.
Bonnie was an active member in the Soule Kindred of America, an organization for descendants of George Soule, one of the Pilgrims who came to America on the Mayflower. She was also a longtime member of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War and was past President and Secretary of the Barbara Burii Tent. Her grandfather, William Riley Soule and his four brothers were Union Veterans.
Bonnie and Felix enjoyed traveling to toy shows, horse shows, auctions, dancing, family reunions, and Soule Kindred reunions. Bonnie also enjoyed the vacations with her family to various states.
Since meeting at the Northfield Ballroom, Bonnie and Felix enjoyed dancing. One of their favorite waltz tunes was ‘The Blue Skirt Waltz’ (it became ‘their song’). She also enjoyed playing cards and playing the board game, Dixie Pollyanna, with family and friends. Spending time with her family and friends was always very enjoyable for her and she was a very gracious hostess to everyone.
Her family and friends enjoyed her baking. We will miss those chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies and frosted sugar cookies. The round banana and date nut breads were always a special treat (especially at Christmas). Pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting and the 7 layer bars were also family favorites. And also the ‘treats’ in the gold candy dish that was either on the kitchen table or counter.
Bonnie is survived by her daughter, Shirley (Les) Abraham; two granddaughters, Melanie Abraham (Rodney Borchert) and Heidi (Eric) Berg; two great-grandsons, James and Marshall Berg; one sister, LaDonna Turkbas; two sisters-in-law, Marion (Byron) Broughten and Chris (Marcel) Wochnick; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Lars and Etta (Soule) Broughten, and her husband of 73 years, Felix Wochnick; two sisters and their spouses: Blanche and Ervin Pitzner and Beatrice and Albert Nelson; four brothers: Bert, Byron (‘Buster’), Burdette Broughten, and an infant brother Lyle Broughten; two sisters-in-law: Ruth (Bert) Broughten and Joan (Burdette) Broughten; two brothers-in-law and their spouses: Daniel and Alice Wochnick and Victor and Rita Wochnick; two brothers-in-law Dr. Nejat Turkbas and Marcel Wochnick; as well as several nieces and nephews.
‘Thank You’ from Bonnie’s family to the Hospice staff who were so caring during her remaining days, the care from the staff at Traditions I and II, the clergy and staff of Sacred Heart Church, the staff of Brick-Meger Funeral Home and all of the thoughts and prayers from family and friends.
Visitation and funeral services will be Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. and Mass of Christian Burial will be at 2 p.m. Interment will follow the funeral at Owatonna Memorial Gardens.
The family has requested that all attending the visitation and funeral to please wear a mask. . . Thank You.
Memorials may be given to donor’s choice.