Bonni Lee (Basten) Emerson

Bonni Lee Basten-Emerson, of Manchester, Iowa, formerly of Edgewood, Iowa, went home to be with her Lord, on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.  She was born on June 21, 1946, in Manchester, the daughter of James and Dorothy (Perrinjaquet) Basten.  Bonni was raised and educated in Edgewood and graduated from Edgewood-Colesburg High School in 1964.

Bonni lived in Edgewood for most of her life.  She worked for J.C. Penney’s in Cedar Rapids for 32 years before retiring in 2008.  Bonni resided in Manchester for the past year. 

Bonni was an artist.  She also enjoyed writing plays and skits, going to the boat to gamble, and attending to her flowers.  Bonni was an avid Elvis fan and loved to tell stories about her visit to Graceland.  She loved her family and cherished spending time with them, especially her grandkids.

Survivors include her two daughters, Heather (Rob Kempf) Emerson and Billi (Chad Bolsinger) Emerson, all of Manchester; three grandchildren, Niki Tibbott, Keara Emerson, and Keaton Emerson; one great-grandson, Peyton Hutchinson; her six siblings, Janet Lentz of Springville, Joyce (Nick) Nichols of Colorado, Lynda (Don) Mahan of Marion, Kathleen “Kat” (Roger) Sapp of Central City, Jimmy Basten of Strawberry Point, and Bob Basten of Edgewood; and several nieces and nephews.

Bonni was preceded in death by her parents; a son in infancy; and a brother-in-law, John Lentz.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials. 

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