Peter A. Boonstra, age 82, of Alexandria, formerly of Willmar, died Friday afternoon, February 15, at the St. Cloud Hospital.
Memorial services will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 20, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar with Rev. Daniel Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Cloverleaf Memorial Cemetery. Military Honors will be provided by Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post 167 of Willmar. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials are preferred to the American Heart Association.
Peter Albert Boonstra was born April 18, 1925, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Peter and Helen (Ruggenberg) Boonstra. He grew up and received his education in Oskaloosa and Mason City, Iowa. At age 16, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. On May 14, 1949, he married Mary Morrison and they made their home in Oskaloosa and later Mason City. Peter worked as a retail sales manager for Osco Drug, Lewis Drug and Thrifty White Drug in numerous communities. In 1975, they moved to Willmar, where he was a district manager for Thrifty White Drug. He retired in the mid 1980s. In August 2007, they moved to Windmill Ponds Assisted Living in Alexandria. He was a former member of the American Legion. Peter enjoyed golfing, fishing, hunting, playing cards, sitting on the deck, and working in the yard. He also enjoyed meeting new people and friends, and afternoon coffee at CashWise. He was extremely proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and loved spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife, Mary of Alexandria; a son, Jon (and Connie) Boonstra of Buffalo; a daughter, Susan (and Stuart) Mackechney of Garfield; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a sister, Barbara (and Jack) Judy of Laguna Niguel, California; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Sidney "Harry" Boonstra; and three sisters, Peggy Boonstra, Dorothy Jackson and Juanita Ebert.