November 26, 1916 - May 2, 2018

Hazel Freestone Bonkrud Age 101, of Birchwood, WI, died Wednesday, May 2, 2018 at the Atrium Post Acute Care in Chetek, WI. She was born in the farm home of her parents, Herman and Maude (Shipley) Buchholz on November 26, 1916 south of Ridgeland, WI.

She went through the first grade in a one room rural school known as Damon Ridge School. Her parents rented their farm and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where they lived for five years and then moved back to Wisconsin to their farm near Ridgeland. Her parents sold the farm and moved to Menomonie, WI where she graduated from Menomonie High School in May 1935.

In August 1935 she went to work as a bookkeeper of the Ridgeland Creamery until 1937 when she was bookkeeper of the Eau Claire County Asylum. There she met Henry Freestone who also worked there. They married on June 3, 1939 at Our Redeemers Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, WI.

In 1940 they bought a Blacksmith and Welding Shop in Sand Creek where they lived until 1949 when they bought a farm near Grafton, WI. In 1951 they sold the farm and moved to Eau Claire.

She worked in the office of National Presto Industries until a Credit Union was started there and she managed the Credit Union office. When Presto closed the factory a full time employee was no longer needed only part time. She then worked for Tony Walker Inc as a building constructor as bookkeeper. In 1957 they bought her parents farm near Neillsville, WI where they lived until 1959 when they moved back to Eau Claire. She worked as head bookkeeper for Consumers Coop Credit Union until they closed in 1977. Hazel finished her career as a bookkeeper for the Department of Aging in Eau Claire until her retirement in 1989.

Her home was always decorated for all holidays of the year. She is survived by a son, Thomas Freestone of Birchwood; a grandson, Robin Freestone of Eau Claire, WI; 2 stepsons, David Bonkrud and Dennis Bonkrud; and 6 step grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Henry in 1987 and her second husband, Harold in 1996; her parents, Herman and Maude Buchholz; and a sister, Alice Peterson.

Graveside services will be held at 11AM Saturday May 12, 2018 in the Prairie View Cemetery in Lake Hallie, WI. Appleyard’s Home for Funerals in Rice Lake is in charge of the arrangements. She will be sadly missed by her son and her grandson who adored and loved her very much.

Last Update: Dec 16, 2018 5:45 pm CST