Bonnie Fay Merrill

HAWARDEN, IOWA – Bonnie Fay Merrill, 81, of Hawarden, passed away on Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at Unity Point Health-St. Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa.

   Memorial Service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 9, 2023, at First Baptist Church in Hawarden with Pastor Stuart Schreur officiating. Burial of the cremated remains will follow at Grace Hill Cemetery. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden is assisting the family.

   Bonnie Fay Merrill, daughter of Martin and Sadie Mae (Hughes) Anderson was born May 13, 1941, in Spencer, Iowa. She resided and attended school in Webb, Iowa. After graduation in 1959, Bonnie attended a school of Business in Mason City, Iowa. Bonnie was united in marriage with Lowell Franklin Merrill at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa on May 21, 1960. The couple was blessed with 2 children, Donna Marie and Daniel Lynn.

   Bonnie was mostly a homemaker but also enjoyed working part-time at IGA and the Burger and Shake. Bonnie also kept busy by delivering Meals on Wheels. When not working, Bonnie enjoyed cooking/baking, knitting, traveling, fishing, and camping with friends and family. Bonnie was a member of the First Baptist Church in Webb, Ottumwa, and Hawarden, Iowa. Over the years, she served as choir director and led special music presentations.

   Bonnie is survived by her 2 children, Donna (Chris) Ryan of Omaha, Nebraska and Daniel Merrill, Dawn De Kenipp of Missoula, Montana; 7 grandchildren, Jeremy, Josh (Beverly), Jeffrey (Vinessa), James, Maelynn, JR, and Jennifer; 12 great-grandchildren; 2 nephews, Philip (Beth) Woodall and John (Amy) Woodall; cousins; and many lifelong friends.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Mae Anderson; parents-in-law, Edgar and Grace Merrill; husband, Lowell; and sister-in-law, Louise Woodall and her husband Bill.