Hattie Bohnert

Hattie Louise Bohnert, 90, formerly of Oak Ridge and Cape Girardeau, died Monday, Oct. 25, 2010, at Chateau Girardeau. She maintained residences in Cape Girardeau and Oak Ridge since 1989.

She was born Oct. 17, 1920, to Henry G. and Martha Schubert Grass in Friedheim. She and Rudolph G. Bohnert were married in 1944 in San Luis Obispo, Calif. He died in 1989.

Hattie began her working career at a young age laboring in private service for a family in St. Louis. During World War II she trained to become a skilled welder, joining the war effort to help produce aircraft in St. Louis.

After the war, she and Rudolph settled on a 160-acre farm in Oak Ridge and raised six children. During this time, she worked at various places, including the Owl Shanty Restaurant in Fruitland, the shoe factory in Jackson, Holiday Inn and My Daddy's Cheesecake in Cape Girardeau.

In her later years, she went back to school to obtain her GED and her license as a certified nurse assistant and was offered employment at Chateau Girardeau. After a stint as a nurse assistant there, Hattie soon developed a private practice and served various residents in that capacity.

She is fondly remembered at the Chateau for her common sense and her frequent successful applications of the doctrine of "tough love." She was a longtime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, where she was also an active member of Concordia Guild.

She treasured her Bible study group and also enjoyed outings with the Red Hats in Cape Girardeau. Her interests included gardening, traveling, family activities and, most of all, watching her beloved St. Louis Cardinals baseball games.

Survivors include three sons, Randy (Shirley) of Oak Ridge, Myron (Esther) of Jackson and Jay (JoAnn) of Ballwin, Mo.; two daughters, Sharon (Weldon) Unterreiner of Perryville, Mo., Karlin Bohnert of Michigan; five grandchildren, Stacy, Aaron, Sara, Mark and Robin; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son, Marty Joe in 2004; three brothers, Elmer, Irvin and Clarence; and a sister, Hilda.

There is no visitation.

A celebration of Hattie's life is planned for 11 a.m. Friday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, in hopes that her family and friends may contribute thoughts and memories of a life fully lived. The Rev. Robert Henrichs will officiate. Burial will be in Old Goshen Cemetery in Oak Ridge at a later date.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Those desiring to place a memorial in her name may make a contribution to Concordia Guild Bereavement Fund (at St. Paul Lutheran) or to the charity of your choice.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.