Bonnie Jean Eggers, 69, of Agency, died at 6:36 a.m. May 29, 2023 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
She was born July 30, 1953 in Iowa to Thomas and Wanda Huisman Hoekstra.
Growing up in Gladbrook and Wellsburg, Bonnie graduated from A.I.B. in 1978. While living in Oskaloosa she worked for Pat Life attorney’s office. She worked for Iowa Judicial Department, for Ottumwa attorney, Vicki Siegel, and at the Iowa Public Defender’s Office and retiring in 2020.
She was a member for 29 years of AFSCME Local 3018 serving as President, Vice President and Chief Steward. She was an AFSCME Iowa/Council 61 member from 1988 until her retirement. Bonnie served on Statewide Judicial Negotiations and on PEOPLE Committee for over 20 years and served as an officer in the Southern Iowa Labor Council, AFL-CIO for 13 years. Bonnie was very active with Wapello County Democratic Party for decades and was instrumental in the upset victory for Tom Vilsack in the 1998 Iowa Governor’s election. She enjoyed spending time with her pets and spoiling her grandchildren.
Surviving is her daughter, Sarah Howard of Ottumwa; 2 granddaughters, Ashley Eggers of Des Moines and Taylor Howard of Buffalo, MO; 2 great-grandsons, Ashton and Lane; and sisters, Jackie Lauer of Bloomfield and Patsy Hoekstra of Missouri.
She was preceded in death by her father, Thomas Hoekstra and her mother, Wanda Hoekstra-Short.
Visitation will be open after 11 a.m. Thursday, June 1st at Reece Funeral Home with her family present to greet friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 2nd at Reece Funeral Home with Chaplain Doug McAntire officiating.. Graveside services and burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Maple Hill Cemetery in Gladbrook.
Memorials may be made to Heartland Humane Society.
