Bonita “Bonnie” Hopp ’92 Postma
Bonita “Bonnie” Hopp ’92 Postma lost her hard fought battle against cancer the morning of Saturday, March 25, 2017, in the loving arms of her husband Dave. They were the love of each other’s lives for more than 43 years. She is now planting a wonderful garden in heaven with her father James.
Bonnie had more than a green thumb, her yard was the envy of everyone who saw it. Bonnie received a Master Gardener degree from MSU and loved spending time in her yard and spent many hours in the green that Dave built for her.
It was her refuge and her peaceful place. She liked nothing better than working in the dirt and listening to her eclectic taste in music. She could make even the sorriest looking plant thrive and produce beautiful flowers. She not only grew flowers, but had a great knack for taking pictures of them.
Family was a big part of who Bonnie was. Siblings, nieces, nephews, extended family or work family, she was there for everyone loving, caring, and helping. She helped countless people, never asking for anything in return. Bonnie and her sisters always looked forward to their shopping trips, taking at least one long weekend every year to a different destination for their dose of sistertime. A packed van on the return trip was icing on the cake. Bonnie was fearless and tenacious. She had her own motocross bike in her early years, parasailed in Mexico, and took fencing class in college. Dave and Bonnie would take their boat across Lake Michigan.
While working full-time, Bonnie drove to Lansing three times a week for three years to graduate from Cooley Law School.
Bonnie graduated from Holland High, Muskegon Community College, Hope College, and Cooley Law School. She worked for Trend Clock and managed Whiskey Creek Campground with Dave for three years. When they returned to Holland, she was an EMT in Grand Rapids.
Known as the LEIN Queen to her co-workers, Bonnie began her career in 1980 at the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Department. She perfected answering emergency calls while keeping her officers safe, which was priority number one. She transitioned to Ottawa Central Dispatch in 1991 as a supervisor, ultimately passing along her headset to take the job of Records and FOIA Supervisor.
Bonita Chiquita was instrumental in organizing many unforgettable events including Cabin Fever, Pigs on the River, and “Bon’s Fires.” As editor in chief of the clandestine “Pig Piles,” she put many a smile on her co-workers faces… Big Red excluded!
A great friend who mentored many, her words of wisdom still ring true today: “Admit Nothing, Deny Everything, Demand Proof.”
Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents, James and Dorothy Hopp; sister, Wanda Hopp; father-in-law, James Postma; brother-in-law, Jerome Barendse; sisterin- law, Ellen Hopp; and niece, Shelley Post.
She is survived by her husband, David Postma; mother-in-law, LaDelle Postma; siblings, Norma Barendse, Arnell Hopp, Iris (Lee) Rozema, Letty (Rich) Looman, and Lynn (Kurt) Schaafsma; inlaws, Dan (Char) Postma, Doug (Marcy) Postma; nephews; nieces; cousins, and a multitude of friends.
Dave and Bonnie’s family would like to give special thanks to Rev.
Karsten Voskuil for his many visits, the home healthcare workers from Sunset, and Faith Hospice who were all so kind and caring.