June Clara Gonnerman

    June Clara Hansen, daughter of Carl Hansen and Agnes Koep Hansen, was born in Everly, Iowa, on March 12, 1922.  The family moved to rural Hartley when June was a teen. She graduated from Hartley High School in 1940 as a member of the National Honor Society.

 She was united in marriage to Donald Gonnerman in 1941. The couple farmed in the Hartley and May City areas until 1958. To this union four children were born: David, Karolyn, Colleen and Loren. During these years, the couple spent countless evenings dancing the night away at The Roof Garden, Central Ballroom, Neebels Danceland and other area dance halls.

     The family moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1959, where June began catering dinners for various large church groups as well as local dignitaries. She brought her passion for cooking back to Iowa when they returned to Hartley, and later to Okoboji. She shared her cooking talents as a HyVee Deli employee and ultimately as head cook at Lutheran Lakeside Camp and Camp Okoboji.  June was well-known for her delicious pies, rolls, birthday, graduation and wedding cakes. She provided hundreds of homemade cookies for several local banks during the Christmas Holidays year after year.

     June and Donald enjoyed numerous trips throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico. They enjoyed fishing and camping.  In her spare time, she was a volunteer with the Lakes Regional Hospital Auxiliary. She was a member of First Lutheran Church of Milford.

     June was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 55 years; brother, Donald Hansen; and sons, David and Loren. Left to cherish her memory are daughter, Karolyn (Tom) Erichsen; daughter-in-law, Denise Gonnerman, all of Spirit Lake, Colleen (James) Johnson of Sutherland, ten grandchildren, 18 great- grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Doris Nagel and Lavonne Hansen, both of Hartley, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.