1946
Bonnie
2024
Bonnie Wigen
September 20, 1946 — March 24, 2024
Bonnie Yvonne (Nielsen) Wigen, age 77, passed away peacefully on 3/24/2024 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Bonnie was born on September 20, 1946 in Freeport, IL, grew up in Roscoe, IL, and graduated in 1964 from Hononegah High School in Rockton, IL. She attended Stout State College (University of Wisconsin Stout) in Menomonie, WI receiving a Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Education in 1968 and a Master of Science in Audio-Visual Communications in 1971. In 1969 she married Robert Bruce Wigen, of Menomonie and they settled in their lifelong home on the shores of Tainter Lake near Menomonie. Bonnie was preceded in death by her parents many years ago, and her husband Bob in May of 2022.
Bonnie taught Home Economics at Cumberland High School in Cumberland, WI (1968-1969) where one of her non-teaching memorable highlights was a benefit basketball game between several Green Bay Packer players and high school faculty. She was one of the first in line to volunteer to escort some of the Packers from the airport to the school and back! Needless to say she was a lifelong Packer Backer! In 1970-71 she worked as a Faculty Assistant at UW Stout. In 1971 she was named Interim Home Economist for Dunn County through UW-Extension. In 1973 she became the permanent UW Extension Home Economist for Dunn County and served in that position for the next 16 years, until 1989. She was active in the Wisconsin and National Associations of Extension Home Economists, serving and/or leading several subcommittees during her membership. She was also active in many community organizations including Rotary Club, Kanda Kruisers Snow Mobile Club, chaired the Campaign Fund for the Heritage Museum in Menomonie and was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for over 50 years.
Bonnie was extremely creative and artistic, mastering sewing, needle point, crocheting, knitting, weaving, stained glass, and Norwegian rosemaling painting as well as cooking and baking. She also loved music and was an accomplished pianist. She joined the Wigen family hobby of rock hounding and mastered cutting and polishing stones as well as jewelry making. She and her husband Bob loved living on Tainter Lake. They also loved traveling to view and appreciate beautiful areas including Alaska, Idaho, Montana and the Dakotas. They found a summer escape to their second home in Silver Bay, Minnesota on the north shore of Lake Superior. Later, they became “Snow Birds” and escaped the Wisconsin chill by traveling to South Padre Island, TX for 23 winters. On the island they added to their other hobbies by collecting amazing sea shells, some of which Bonnie made into jewelry and home décor.
Bonnie is survived by her sister Lynne Nielsen of Menomonie, WI, her brother Vern Nielsen (Krista) of MacClenny, FL, nephew John (Diana) and great-nephews Chase, Blaine and Bo.
A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com .
Bonnie taught Home Economics at Cumberland High School in Cumberland, WI (1968-1969) where one of her non-teaching memorable highlights was a benefit basketball game between several Green Bay Packer players and high school faculty. She was one of the first in line to volunteer to escort some of the Packers from the airport to the school and back! Needless to say she was a lifelong Packer Backer! In 1970-71 she worked as a Faculty Assistant at UW Stout. In 1971 she was named Interim Home Economist for Dunn County through UW-Extension. In 1973 she became the permanent UW Extension Home Economist for Dunn County and served in that position for the next 16 years, until 1989. She was active in the Wisconsin and National Associations of Extension Home Economists, serving and/or leading several subcommittees during her membership. She was also active in many community organizations including Rotary Club, Kanda Kruisers Snow Mobile Club, chaired the Campaign Fund for the Heritage Museum in Menomonie and was an active member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority for over 50 years.
Bonnie was extremely creative and artistic, mastering sewing, needle point, crocheting, knitting, weaving, stained glass, and Norwegian rosemaling painting as well as cooking and baking. She also loved music and was an accomplished pianist. She joined the Wigen family hobby of rock hounding and mastered cutting and polishing stones as well as jewelry making. She and her husband Bob loved living on Tainter Lake. They also loved traveling to view and appreciate beautiful areas including Alaska, Idaho, Montana and the Dakotas. They found a summer escape to their second home in Silver Bay, Minnesota on the north shore of Lake Superior. Later, they became “Snow Birds” and escaped the Wisconsin chill by traveling to South Padre Island, TX for 23 winters. On the island they added to their other hobbies by collecting amazing sea shells, some of which Bonnie made into jewelry and home décor.
Bonnie is survived by her sister Lynne Nielsen of Menomonie, WI, her brother Vern Nielsen (Krista) of MacClenny, FL, nephew John (Diana) and great-nephews Chase, Blaine and Bo.
A Celebration of Life will be planned at a later date.
Cremation Society of Wisconsin, Altoona is assisting the family. Online condolences may be shared at www.cremationsociety-wi.com .
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bonnie Wigen, please visit our flower store.
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