Highland Cemetery

Pawnee, Pawnee County, Oklahoma

© Poteet Funeral Home
Submitted by: Terry Dudley

Bonnie Lou Ball Riemer

May 1, 1940 ~ May 27, 2021

Bonnie Lou Ball was born on May 1, 1940 to Alice and Glenn Ball of Pawnee in her grandmother’s [Rose O’Leary’s] home. She lived across the road from Prosperity School where she attended until the middle of the 4th grade. At that time, her family moved into town [Pawnee] where she attended Pawnee School until she graduated in 1958.

The summer after graduation, Bonnie worked at the Pawnee Osteopathic Hospital. This inspired her to become a nurse, thus she attended Hillcrest School of Nursing in Tulsa where she graduated with a degree as a Registered Nurse in 1961. Back in ‘61’ it was not permitted for nursing students to be married; So Bonnie and "the love of her life,"John Riemer, went to Hugo, Ok and got married there in secret on February 25, 1961. Bonnie's first job was working at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa. She also worked for an ENT Specialist in Tulsa. She loved working as a nurse and helping people.

Bonnie and John's daughter, Rhonda Michelle, was born on September 27, 1961. Eastern Airlines hired John in 1964 and the family moved to Atlanta, GA where they lived for 4 years. Bonnie worked part-time at a hospital during the time spent in Atlanta. The family then moved to Key Biscayne in South Florida and finally bought a home in Plantation, FL.

In 1972, John and Bonnie adopted their son, John Michael. Bonnie befriended their caseworker at the [ Children's Home Society (Betsy)]. Betsy asked if Bonnie would help young women through their pregnancy. Over the years, Bonnie really enjoyed coaching and helping 16 girls through their pregnancies.

Bonnie did not just love helping others; she loved flowers, butterflies and the outdoors. She loved the Lord with all her heart and was a deacon at the family’s church in Plantation. She loved crafts, ceramics, dogs and her family dearly.

In 2003, John and Bonnie moved back to Oklahoma where they built a home in an airport community with a runway at the backdoor. She and John loved this so much. John could fly his RV airplane, which Bonnie helped him build. Bonnie was John’s riveter on the airplane. They loved doing that together.

Bonnie was preceded in death by her beloved husband John and their loving daughter Rhonda. Also her parents, her brother Harvey Ball of Pawnee and her sisters: Peggie Guthrie of Bixby, OK, Zeta Mae of Cody, WY, Donna Sue Harlin of Jenks, Ok and Kathy Symmonds of New Mexico.

Bonnie is survived by her wonderful son John Michael and his sweet wife Darly Frenelle of Virginia and Bonnie’s brother Tommie Ball of Pawnee, OK; plus many wonderful nieces and nephews.