Bonnie Lee McLaughlin, 78, of Alliance, passed away Thursday, September 12, 2019 at Highland Park Care Center in Alliance. Her funeral service will be held at 10am on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 at the Alliance United Methodist Church. Viewing will be at the church Tuesday morning from 8:30 – 10am.
The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Bonnie’s honor be made in care of Pillars for the Park or Alzheimer’s Dementia Association. Online condolences may be made by viewing Bonnie’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff is entrusted with arrangements.
Bonnie Lee McLaughlin was born in Alliance, NE on September 11th, 1941 to Raily and Mary (Weaver) Koozer. She was born the 6th of 11 children. She attended country school until the 8th grade when she then transferred to Alliance Public Schools.
Bonnie met the love of her life, Martin McLaughlin, whom she married in Rapid City on May 4th, 1962. Shortly thereafter, they moved to LaVista, NE where they raised 3 children. She worked for Safeway Grocery Stores until they closed in 1983. From there, they briefly lived in Denver, Alliance and then settled in Council Bluffs, IA. where they managed West Fair Fairgrounds and worked with many people who became lifelong friends. They returned to Alliance several years later after Marty was stricken with terminal cancer to be among family. After Marty’s death, Bonnie worked for Daylight Donuts, Alliance Grocery Kart, Good Samaritan, and then ended her working career after becoming a personal care attendant. Bonnie was known for always having a smile on her face and for taking care of those around her.
Bonnie is survived by her children Wayne (Pat) McLaughlin, Shawn (Robert) Shimp, Marty (Terri) McLaughlin. Grandchildren Ashley (Dallas) Korus, Brian (Tricia) Shimp, Desirae McLaughlin, Danielle (Stephen) Driscoll, Seth McLaughlin, Tyler (Kaylee) McLaughlin, Brady (Lynzie) Shimp, Bailey Shimp (Ory Trout, and Brentan Shimp and her great-grandchildren Kenna Driscoll, Keaton Korus, Caden Shimp, Carter Korus, and Kai Driscoll. Siblings Bill Koozer, Betty (Tom) McDonald, Jean Seidler, Alan (Tammy) Koozer, Shirley Sulzbach, Sharon Nollette, Toni Fanning; sisters-in-law Denise Koozer, Rosie McLaughlin, Deanna McLaughlin, Liliann McGuire, and brothers-in-law Jack Lawler, and Gene (Colleen) McLaughlin, and numerous nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by many friends and loved ones including the amazing nurses and staff at Highland Park Memory Care Unit.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, infant sister Rose Marie, sister Leota Lawler, brother Raily (Colleen) Koozer; mother and father-in-law Ted & Hazel McLaughlin, brothers-in-law Wilbur Seidler, George Sulzbach, Don Fanning, Ted, Jerry, Dick, Jim, Dave McLaughlin, sisters-in-law Mary Lou (Donal) Fisher, Rose Marie Roach, Sue Martin.