Bonnie Starlin

Bonnie Starlin, 94, of Atlantic, Iowa, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at Cass Health in Atlantic.

Faith, Family, Farm, and Friends.

Bonnie was born Jan. 3rd, 1932 in Higbee, Missouri. She spent her early years living on the family farm in Taylor County, Iowa. Bonnie and George Jr. Starlin were married and together they moved to the Starlin family farm East of Grant Iowa in 1951. In 2012, the Starlin farm became a century farm and Bonnie and family were honored to go to the Iowa State Fair to receive the award.

Bonnie was baptized at the Atlantic Gospel Chapel in 1954. Her faith was very important to her and she shared it in the way she lived her life. She was a part of Lyman Gospel Chapel and a member of the Cumberland Baptist Church, helping with Bible school and AWANA club and attending several Bible studies for many years. In her later years, she joined the E-Free church in Atlantic, now known as GracePoint.

Besides being a homemaker, wife, and mother, Bonnie had large gardens and canned her harvest. She loved to bake and made wonderful cakes, pies, and bread. Working outside the home began for Bonnie in 1962 at Union Carbides in Red Oak, Iowa. She held many jobs over the years managing a restaurant in Massena Iowa, Farm News, and in 1979 she became assistant manager at the Kmart in Red Oak, Iowa, until retiring in 1997.

Bonnie and Jr. were blessed with four daughters and one son who were the joy of their lives. She taught them about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She loved and supported her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and even the great-greats.

A whole new chapter after raising children began when the grandchildren arrived. She delighted in each and every one. They spent many hours, days, and weeks on the farm, enjoying the farm animals, pets, and their special pony as well as cooking and time with Gramps.

Always pouring into others, she served as chairman for the Kmart Good News Club which supported community activities, was a member of Grant School PTA as treasurer, a Blue Birds leader, a member of Cass, Montgomery, and Massena historical societies and Founder of Grant Community Preservationists alongside her daughter, Angela Ireland.

Even the hobbies she loved both reflected and fed generous spirit and included family picnics, gardening, playing cards, attending auctions, refinishing furniture, horseback riding and trail rides with Massena and Corning Saddle Clubs, and the Little Britches Rodeo in Massena was always special. Making many pounds of candy at Christmas brought infinite joy to those around her; her most loved being peanut brittle and chocolate fudge. The family cookie bakes and coffee breaks were traditions carried on for many years. Christmas at the Starlin's was an event the whole family enjoyed and will never forget; as well as many family dinners on the farm.

You were always welcome in their home. It was a place many went to for refuge, encouragement, and just to be surrounded by her love.

She is survived by her sister, Jeane Orstad; children George (Crystal) Starlin, Deborah Thomas and Angela Ireland; grandchildren, Rodney (Kristy) Frizzell, Stacy (Mike) Luke, Ben Thomas , Josh (Stacie) Morrison, Zachery (Erin) Morrison, Chelsia Morrison, Sarah (Matt) Lundquist, Brianna (Scott) Long, Christel Thomas, Rachel (Corey) Smith, Natosha (Brad) Lank, Neeley Wetzler, Colton (Courtney) Starlin Ireland, Elisha (Adam) Hardy, Max (Jordan) Starlin, Dusty (Josie) Starlin; and many great- and great- great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her husband, George Jr. Starlin; parents, Irene Zuber and Max Wills; mother- and father-in-law, May and George Starlin; daughters, Cheryl Starlin and Patricia Morrison; brothers, William "Bill" Wills, Bernard Wills; sisters-in-law, Wilma Wills, Dorothy Hensel, Evelyn Vale, Myrna Hiatt, Maxine Starlin, Dorthy Starlin and Maxine Wills; brothers-in-law, Delbert Starlin, Charles Hensel, Paul Vale, Lyle Hiatt and Dale Orstad; several nieces and nephews; and her little poodle, Gigit (a constant companion).

A Graveside Service will be at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 30th, 2026, at Victoria Cemetery, south of Massena, Iowa. Pastor Todd Erlandson of GracePoint Church will be officiating over services. A Celebration of Life Visitation, which will include a luncheon, will be held at the Cumberland Community Center in Cumberland, Iowa, immediately following the graveside.

Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.

Roland Funeral Service is caring for Bonnie's family and her arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.rolandfuneralservice.com.