Natalie Bunnell Obituary's Obituary
Natalie Jean Bunnell left this life when she was called home to heaven on the night of December 6, 2009. She was the daughter of Rick and Susan Bunnell of Centerville, who are grateful for the time she was within their loving care. Natalie was a little sister to Ross and a big sister to Juliana. Natalie lived a simple life, best satisfied when she was doing the right thing. Her favorite future goal was to someday live on a farm and have an orchard and a garden. Natalie attended first through fourth grades at Heritage Christian School. She treasured the time she spent there with her little family of classmates in the tender care of Mrs. Marsha Clark, Mrs. Shirley Roach and Pastor Robert Pick. Natalie was a hard worker. She always had a job since she was 14 and never was without. She created her own opportunities. She worked at Hy-Vee until January 2007, semester time of her senior year in high school when she developed a passion for politics in her high school government class. She sought and gained a position as a page at the Iowa State Capitol building, lived with friends in Des Moines and worked in the Legislative Services Agency. After her work at the state house ended in April 2007, she came home for the summer and worked in an office at Vermeer, where she decided that a desk job was not going to be in her future. She changed her future plans from Iowa State business to Mason City nursing school. Natalie had trouble being away from family and all things familiar so moved to Monroe with her parents. Starting early this year, she worked for The Homestead in a position where Natalie provided direct care to three autistic people in Des Moines, so they could live out in the community and not in a facility. During the summer, Natalie moved back to Centerville, enrolled in the Indian Hills Community College LPN program on the Centerville campus and kept her job in Des Moines. Natalie was a Christian since she was a little girl. She has given her friends and family the sure peace that she is in a good place, a place so good, she wouldn't want to come back here; an eternal place of peace and beauty that was specially prepared for all those who accept the gift of salvation and give Jesus a place in their lives. God ministered to Natalie through the love of her life, Tonye Kolokolo, who is a man of God. The two were committed to each other. We that are left may not have known that Natalie was going to be with us in her earthly body for 20 years, 3 months, and 2 days, but her Father in Heaven knew. Now Natalie knows, and one day we will know as we are known. All will be revealed. God is merciful, even if we don't always understand. When my understanding can't go far enough, then my faith and trust help me get the rest of the way. Natalie was preceded in death by her Grandma Patsy just nine days before. Left to mourn for her passing are her parents, Ricky Lawrence and Susan Lynn Merritt Bunnell; her sister, Juliana Rose Bunnell; her brother, Ross Andrew Merritt, and his wife, Elizabeth, of Seymour with their two children, John and Erin; her beloved Tonye Kolokolo of Des Moines; grandparents, Jim Bunnell of Centerville and John and Jeannie Merritt of Seymour; aunts Sally Merritt Rash (Joel) and Regena Bunnell Bullard (Lannon); uncles Andy Merritt (Linda), Rusty Bunnell (Kim), and Randy Bunnell (Carol); cousins Jeff Campbell, Travis and Tanner Rash, Levi, Quinten, Clayton and Luke Merritt, Nicholas Bunnell, Jessyca and Jacob Bunnell, and Joshua, Justin and Layneigh Bullard; and special family friends, the Allison and Katie Berner family, the Trent McMahon family and the Sierra Walker family. Funeral service will be 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at Thomas Funeral Home. Visitation will be two hours prior from 5-7 p.m.. Interment will be in Haines Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the family which may be left at or mailed to Thomas Funeral Home -- 23548 Hwy 5 -- PO Box 125 -- Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be left online at thomasfh.com. Book Travel to Services To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Natalie Bunnell Obituary please visit our Sympathy Store.
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