Thursday, July 24, 2008

Army Lt. Colonel Bonnie Bata-Jones RN FNP

Remember Our Heroes

Army Lt. Colonel Bonnie Bata-Jones RN FNP, age 61, of Excelsior, MN

Lt Col Bata-Jones passed away at home on July 24th, 2008 following a courageous battle with cancer.

Bonnie was born May 19, 1947 in Grafton, ND. Daughter of the late Myron and Blanche (Zahradka) Bata of Adams ND. She attended St. Francis School of Nursing in Minot, ND where she completed her RN program in 1968.

She then went on to earn her Bachelors degree of Medicine at Western Michigan University in 1977. She obtained her FNP certificate from the University of Grand Forks in 1978. Eleven years later, she earned her Masters degree in Education, also from the University of Grand Forks.

She has worked as an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University Minnesota School of Nursing, in the Family Nurse Practitioner program since 1993.

Bonnie was a Lt. Colonel in the US Army Reserves, retiring in May 2007 after 24 years of service that took her all around the world. She is a Veteran of the Gulf War, serving overseas in Abu Dhabi in 1991.

In 1988, on a mission in Seoul, Korea, she met MSG Darrel Jones, whom she married in April of 1990. She is survived by him as well as her daughter, Janette (Matt) Engelbrecht, brothers, Joe (Patty) Bata and Marlin Bata, niece, Karla (Marc) Haug, nephews, Chris (Penny) Bata, Joey Bata and Mark Bata, as well as many other loving relatives and friends.

Bonnie's spirit will also live on through all of the people she has befriended, cared for, mentored and loved.

Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 AM Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 680 Mill street, Excelsior. Visitation 5-7 PM Monday in the Gathering Space at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and one hour prior to the Mass at CHURCH. A memorial service will be held at St. Catherine's Catholic Church of Lomice, in rural Lawton, ND on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 3:00 PM. Interment St. Catherine Cemetery, Lomice, ND. Memorials to the Tri-Valley Migrant Head Start/Health program (218) 281-0550

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