Bonnie Lee Hooker

Bonnie Lee (Visser) Hooker passed away quietly in her home on December 7, 2024. It was as she wished – living independently in the house that she bought and paid for as a single woman who raised her own children and then helped raise her grandchildren and even took care of her parents in that same home. She was preceded by her parents, John and Genevieve Visser, and her son, Andrew. She is survived by her siblings Stuart, Wanda, and Howard. Her son Thomas, his wife Suzanne, and many grandchildren, both biological and acquired, will also miss her dearly.

Bonnie was born on May 19, 1951. She grew up in Grand Rapids and graduated from Rockford High School in 1969. During her life she took pride in raising her children and helping to raise her grandchildren. She had a successful career with Old Kent Bank until she decided to retire with a pension. She was no stranger to hard work, having held jobs at Rockford Flower shop, Abbott Labs earlier in her life, and even after retirement continuing to work at Eastgate Pharmacy and D&W before she finally decided she was ready to truly retire. This work ethic allowed her to pay off her home and her car, and even help her son purchase his first house, all accomplishments that she was immensely proud of. 

 She also enjoyed traveling all over the United States and Canada and taking trips with her family. When she couldn’t travel, she loved taking her family out for meals and trying the new foods they prepared for her. In her later years Bonnie was happy to be able to settle into her position as Grandma, waving at the children riding bikes past her house, chatting with assorted grandchildren about their lives, and even getting caught up with some of the modern social terms.

Thomas’ statement about his mom sums her up well. “She taught  me to do what is right and stand up for myself in the face of anything, through her determination, strength, and love.”

There will be a small get together at 12pm (Noon) on Tuesday January 7th in the mausoleum at Graceland Memorial Park.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bonnie Lee Hooker, please visit our floral store.