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Bonita Lemon

January 13, 1933 - July 21, 2023

Bonita Jane (Hapke) Lemon passed away on Friday, July 21, 2023, at Mill Pond Care Center.  After living fearlessly with Alzheimer’s disease during the last 12 years, her body lost its fight following a recent cancer diagnosis.  She was born January 13, 1933, in Sparta, Illinois, to Albert and Martha (Schott) Hapke.

Visitation will be held from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 29, 2023, with services following immediately thereafter at Memorial Services of Iowa (4208 N. Ankeny Blvd.).  The service will be live streamed at the following link: https://vimeo.com/event/3588278

Bonita married the love of her life, John Lemon, in May 1951, flying across the country from small-town Illinois to San Francisco, California, where he was stationed with the Army at The Presidio.  They had three children, Pamela, Mark, and Scott and being their mother was her favorite role, and the one she was meant for.   Of course, the role of grandmother to Kasey, Whitney, and Christina was a close second.  She had a bright smile, distinctive laugh, loved to sing, and was (in our family’s estimation) the best baker ever.  Her home, her family, and her faith were the constants in her life.

The Lemon family moved to Ankeny in 1969, and she became a devoted and faithful member of Ankeny Presbyterian Church serving in the positions of choir member, elder, and deacon.  After being a stay-at-home mom for 20 years, she returned to work in 1973 as a legal secretary at a local Ankeny law firm, which was followed by a position with the Community Education Dept. (Ankeny School System) retiring in about 1995.  She also participated in many of the Ankeny Community Chorus events.

She was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, John Lemon; her son, John Mark Lemon; two siblings, and her parents.  She is survived by her devoted and loving children, Pamela Wood (Michael) of Boca Raton, Florida, and Scott Lemon (Jackie) of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; and sister, Alberta Rohlfing of Houston, Texas.  Also cherishing her memory are her granddaughters Kasey Stark, Whitney Stark, and Christina Lemon.

Contributions may be made in her memory to UnityPoint Hospice Des Moines Foundation, 1415 Woodland Ave. #E-200, Des Moines, IA  50309 or to Mill Pond Care Center, 1201 SE Mill Pond Court, Ankeny, IA  50021.