Bonnie Lou Van Alen
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Funeral information
Funeral Service: Monday, July 12, 2010 9:00 AM Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, CA Interment: Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, CA  Bonnie Van Alen Memorial TributeBiographyBonnie Van Alen was called to our Lord on July 6, 2010, after a 17 year battle with cancer. She was born August 29, 1942 to Howard and Lorraine Bandy in South Dakota. She grew up on a farm where she began her love of animals, and learned what hard work, and perseverance was all about.The family moved when she was a sophomore in high school where she went from a school of 17 to one with over 3000 in Hayward, CA. She attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo with a major in Ag Business where she married Cal Fischer. Bonnie and her husband bought a farm in Calistoga where they raised Thoroughbred Horses. She raised and showed Australian Cattle Dogs for 25 years and is Past President of the Australian Cattle Dog Club of America. In 1984 they moved to Madera with their son, to expand their Thoroughbred operation. She married Joe Van Alen in 1986 and joined him in his heavy equipment operation, farming and cattle ranching. She has continued her love of horses by dividing her time between Madera and Kentucky supporting her son's life work as a farm manager, raising, breeding and racing Thoroughbreds. She was a member of the Madera I-Lan Sister City Corp. since 1975, a member and past president of the Madera County Cattlewomen where she was elected "Cattlewoman of the Year" in 1997; member and past director of the Madera County Farm Bureau where she set up the Joe Van Alen Scholarship Fund in honor of her deceased husband and his family. She served on the board and is a member of the Madera Republican Women Federated. Our sincerest gratitude goes to the staff of Nancy Hinds Hospice Bonnie is survived by her son Todd C. Fischer and his wife Edna of Versailles, KY and her brother Wade Bandy and his wife Brenda of Suisun City, CA. Graveside services will be on Monday, July 12, 2010 at 9:00 A.M. at Arbor Vitae Cemetery in Madera, CA. The family would appreciate in lieu of flowers, remembrances be made to Hinds Hospice, 1616 West Shaw Avenue Suite A-5, Fresno, CA 93711; the Joe Van Alen Scholarship Fund 1102 South Pine Street, Madera, CA 93637 or to the Susan G. Koman For The Cure, Attn: Donor Services, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309. |
