Bonnie (McConnell) Martin

Bonnie Martin (née McConnell) 73, of Portage, IN passed away on September 22, 2020 surrounded by her loved ones. She was born January 2, 1947 to Melborne and Ruth (Fites) McConnell in Hammond, Indiana.

Bonnie was a 1965 graduate of William Wirt High School and married Ronald A. Martin on June 1, 1967. She is survived by her husband of 53 years Ronald, son Phillip (Jennifer) Martin, daughter Carrie (Troy) Williams, and grandchildren, Gabrielle, Annika, Marisa, Madelyn, Mackenzie, Carter and Carsyn along with many other loving family members and close friends.

Bonnie worked nearly 30 years at Myers Elementary School as a classroom aide and Title 1 assistant. Before that, she was a beloved room mother for her children’s classrooms. She loved the teachers, staff, and children with whom she worked and kept them in stitches with her animated stories and jokes. She was blessed with the gift of gab and nobody was a stranger for long. She was also a den mother for Phillip’s Cub Scouts pack. She was a devoted mother who attended all of her children’s games, meets, and performances. She loved fishing on Lake Michigan for perch, salmon, and trout, and spent many summers entering (and occasionally winning) fishing contests. She was a talented seamstress who sewed many of her and her children’s clothes, and home furnishings. Bonnie loved playing cards, Yahtzee, and board games with her family and made several trips to Las Vegas with friends and family. She also enjoyed live theatre and supported the arts.

She also enjoyed traveling and has been to over 14 countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa. She made a great travel partner because she was up for anything and wanted to take it all in. She also enjoyed theme parks with her children and grandchildren and went on every roller coaster or ride they wanted. Until COPD and cancer struck, she had an endless zest for life.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Bonnie’s memory to Myers Elementary for their winter coat fund for students. Their address is 3100 Willowdale Rd in Portage, IN 46368.

A private cremation ceremony will be held at Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Highland, IN and a Celebration of Life will occur at Edmond and Evans Funeral home in Portage, IN from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm (family will speak around 2:30) on Sunday, October 4, 2020.

For additional information, please contact Hillside Funeral Home & Cremation Center Konnie Kuiper-Kevin Nordyke by calling us at 219-838-0800 or visiting us at www.hillsidefhcares.com

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