Gwendolyn "Gwen" Marie Boonstra

Gwen Boonstra, age 80, of New London, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, September 29, at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

A celebration of life service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 22, at East Norway Lake Lutheran Church.  Interment will be at Fairview Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, October 21, at East Norway Lake Lutheran Church and will also continue for one hour prior to the service.  Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home.  www.petersonbrothers.com

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Marie Boonstra was born on March 18, 1942, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of Arnie and Marie (Johnson) Cline.  She grew up in Minneapolis and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1960.  On April 15, 1961, Gwen was united in marriage to Dennis Henry Boonstra and they made their home in Minneapolis.  In 1972, they moved to Willmar and Gwen worked as a homemaker.  In 1986, she began working for the Willmar School District as a Special Education Para and retired in 2011 (25 years later).  Since 1991, they have resided on Games Lake.  Gwen was an active member of East Norway Lake Lutheran Church and the Blue Star Mothers.  She enjoyed reading, music, watching birds, being outdoors and attending her children's and grandchildren's sporting events.

She is survived by her loving husband of over 60 years, Dennis; three sons, Jeff (and Deb) Boonstra of New London, Mark (and Rachael) Boonstra of Maple Grove and Jason (and Sarah) Boonstra of Appleton; nine grandchildren, Jessica (and Ben) Tamm, Derek (and Ayrika) Boonstra, Robyn (and Dan) Hinz, Taylor (and Will) Clayton, Samantha (and Joey) Matesi, Kari Erickson, Jill Erickson, Tate Stock (and Paige Burkel), Hannah Disinger; four great grandchildren, Andrew and Elizabeth Hinz and Oliver and Isabelle Stock; and one sister-in-law, Roz Cline of Las Vegas, NV., besides other relatives and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Charles.