Hans was born October 26, 1940, the son of Henry and Pearl (Carper) Bonnesen in Manning, Iowa. He grew up on a farm near Templeton, Iowa, and attended Eden No. 9 country school.
He received his education, graduating in 1959, at Manning
Public School where he was an outstanding athlete, holding school records in football for more than 15 years.
He was confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning on March 25, 1956.
In 1959, he married Linda Warner at the Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, Iowa. They have been married for 62 years.
Hans was a gentle, friendly outgoing man. As one person said he was quite a "cut-up." He was always teasing and ready with a one-liner.
Hans, a licensed barber, attended Barber College in both Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha. He began working at the Neyhart Barber Shop in Grand Island in 1961. He also worked at Les' Barber Shop purchasing the business in 1970. After 46 years as a barber, he retired in 2007. He was honored to be a licensed barber in Nebraska for more than 50 years.
He enjoyed spending time with his family and grandchildren. He was proud to be a grandpa and each day when he returned from work, he would call Wood River and ask to speak to Milayna McKinney (of course, she couldn't talk yet). He also enjoyed watching auto racing and bull riding. He spent many hours gardening and taking care of his yard.
Survivors include his wife, Linda; son and daughter-in-law, Douglas and Catherine Bonnesen of Kechi, Kansas; daughter and son-in-law, Holly and Michael Derr of Harvard, Nebraska; grandchildren, Noah Bonnesen, Milayna McKinney, Kinzee Derr, Paden (Kailey) Derr; great-grandchild, Ayden Derr; nephews, Robert Fuller and family of Runaway Bay, Texas, and Jack Fuller and family of Seward, Nebraska.
Those preceding him in death were his parents; a brother, Robert who was killed in World War II, and sister and brother-in-law, Mardel and Jack Fuller.
All Faiths Funeral Home Grand Island, Nebraska.
1959 MHS graduates Vivian Adamson, Glen Ahrendsen, Shirley Beckman, Hans "Junior" Bonnesen, Richard Bowers, Ronald Bromert, Wayne Brus, Beverly Dalgety, Sandra Dammann (salutatorian), Jeanette Fink, Allan Fonken, Mary Frahm, William Genzen, Dennis Grimm, Joel Grundmeier, Larry Handlos, Keith Hass, Paul Hass, Linda Heithoff (valedictorian), Betty Hoffman, Barbara Johnson, Julia Johnson, Bernard Jones, Karen King, Philip Knaack, Rollyn Koepke, Wanda Kolman, Nancy Loftus, Ronald Mahnke, Lorraine Martens, Gary Monson, Evans Samuel Musfeldt, Jay Musfeldt, Sharon Niederfrank, Allen Nissen, David Peters, Keith Pfannkuch, Roger Reinke, Larry Rix, Larry Rowedder, Susan Rowedder, Carlene Schrum, Sharon Schrum, Vernon Sonksen, Carol Spieker, Stanley Spies, Clifford Stammer, Mary Steffes, Larry Vehrs, Ronald Vogl, Sylvia Vollstedt, Linda Warner
1959 former students: Dennis Backhaus, Darlene Breidert, Gary Brockelsby, Lorraine Christensen, Helen Dethlefsen, Phyllis Fritz, Richard Hinners, Mary Jentsch, Jolene Koch, Larry Martens, James Middendorf, Ronald Mohr, Donna Mundt, Edward Neubaum, Linda Paulsen, Rose Porter, Michael Schoeppner, Lavina Seals, David Sextro, Kay Stangl, Larry Stangl, Gary Tigges, Carmen Weifenbach, Marilee White, Marilyn Wyatt
March 25, 1956 Zion Lutheran Confirmation
Back: Pastor Eschenbacher, Dennis Backhaus,
Ronnie Mohr, Stanley Beck, Hans "Junior" Bonnesen
Front: Kenneth Puck, Keith Hass, Garry Martens, Rollin Kuhl, Roger Reinke, Joel Grundmeier
1958 football team
1951 Fifth Grade
Back: Miss Theresa Theobald, Dave Peters, Bernard Jones, Dennis Grimm, Barb Johnson, Jeanette Fink, Glen Ahrendsen
Middle: Beverly Dalgety, Hans "Junior" Bonnesen,
Sharon Niederfank, Susan Rowedder, Sam Musfeldt, Gary Monson, Marilee White
Seated: LaVina Seals, Roger Reinke, Betty Hoffman, Larry Handlos, Sylvia Vollstedt
1951 Fifth Grade
Back: Miss Rita Theobald, Ron Bromert, Phil Knaack, Larry Rix, Ron Mohr, Sharon Schrum, Nancy Loftus, Donna Mundt
Middle: Mary Frahm, Linda Paulsen, Linda Warner, Shirley Beckman, Mary Jentsch, Julia Johnson, Dave Sextro
Front: Paul Hass, Joel Grundmeier, Edward Neubaum, Sandra Dammann, Linda Heithoff, Ron Vogl
Eden No. 9
Back: Earl Singsank, Harry Hacker, Robert Bonnesen
Front: Delmus Hacker, Lavern Fenderich
April 6, 1939 Future Farmers To Stage 3 Skits
All parts will be taken by boys. The plays selected are "His First Shave," "Be Home By Midnight" and "A Bachelor's Baby." Mr. William B.
Campbell is assisted in directing the plays by Miss Gladys Bauman and Miss. Rosemary Gleason.
Short skits will be on the program between acts.
Funds derived from this entertainment will be used to defray transportation expenses for the vocational group to attend the state convention at Ames.
Shown, left to right, are George Opperman as Miss Smithers, still looking for a man; Merlin Welch as Ma Jones,
worried sick about Junior; Glen Jensen as Junior; Elvin McConnell as Derek; and Bob Bonnesen
and Herbert Hansen as "Dynamite" and "Moses."
Pearl Bonnesen is mother of Robert & Mardell
Harry, Delmus & Bob Hacker are sons of Bill & Selma (Friedrichsen) Hacker
Arlene Friedrichsen is the daughter of Ferd & Malinda Friedrichsen
Friedrich & Augusta Friedrichsen are the grandparents of the Hacker boys & Doris Schreck & Ray Christensen.