Bonnie Marilyn Holtz, 90, of Charles City, finished her earthly journey and went home to heaven on February 18, 2023 with her family singing by her side.
A funeral service for Bonnie Holtz will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2023 at the Gospel Lighthouse Church in Floyd with Pastor Paul Phillips officiating. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City.
Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the start of the service at the church on Wednesday. Bonnie cherished her church, the Gospel Lighthouse, and Lighthouse Academy in Floyd.
Bonnie was born April 16, 1932 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Hazel (Stillion) Tracy and Edward Tracy. The couple later divorced. Hazel married John Meyer on December 3, 1937. John adopted Bonnie and her big sister Dolores.
She graduated from Charles City High School in 1952. She married Merlin Holtz on January 24, 1953 in Charles City. The couple had three children. Their marriage ended in 1977. She graduated from Iowa Methodist School of Nursing in 1958. This was the beginning of a beautiful, selfless career as a nurse where Bonnie dedicated her life to serving others. She worked for many years at Riverside Chautauqua, 9th Street Chautauqua, and taking care of people in their homes. She was very conscientious in serving her patients with dignity, respect, and true compassion.
Anyone who knew Bonnie realized she collected hurting people wherever she went. Her heart was like Mother Teresa’s and she never wanted anyone to feel unloved, left out, or alone. Her God-given superpower was empathy. She could feel the pain of others. Her kindness made her corner of the world a better and safer place by loving and caring for the sick, the broken-hearted, and the lonely. She loved turning strangers into acquaintances and acquaintances into friends. During holidays, her table was surrounded with those who had no place to go. She always made room for one more, even if it meant giving up her spot at the table.
Bonnie also had a love for animals, especially feral cats. She would do her best to nurse an injured or sick animal back to health. She couldn’t stand to see anyone or anything suffer, and always did her best to bring comfort.
Many years ago she became dear friends with Glen and Virginia Brinkman. She was Virginia’s mother and father’s personal nurse until they passed away. She took care of Glen and Virginia until they passed away, and for the past two decades she was a caregiver to Glen and Virginia’s daughter Jeanette.
The family would like to thank St. Croix Hospice for all their help and guidance in the last seven months.
Bonnie will be greatly missed by her two sons: Robert (Pam) Holtz of Charlotte, North Carolina; Kenneth (Lisa) of Moorhead; and daughter Dixie (Paul) Phillips of Floyd; her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins, her sister Dolores (Lewis) Moon of Rockford, Illinois; and her baby sister and main caregiver Lois Meyer of Charles City, and a sister-in-law Kris Meyer of New Hampton.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her only brother John, her mother and father, and a granddaughter.
Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
