Fennimore, WI-Bonnie G. Gift, age 74, of Fennimore passed away on Thursday Nov. 8, 2012 at Grant Regional Health Center in Lancaster. Bonnie was born on Aug. 19, 1938 in Boscobel the daughter of Carroll and Mildred (Nelson) Stitzer. Bonnie graduated from Boscobel High School in 1956 and later attended the University of Wisconsin-Platteville, where she graduated in 1960. She then was united in marriage to Donovan Gift and moved to Nebraska where she taught elementary school. Bonnie worked for many years at the Bohlman Drug Store in Boscobel until her retirement. She was very active in the Fennimore United Methodist Church and sang in the church choir. She was a member and past president of the Fennimore Kiwanis Club. U.W. sports were very important to Bonnie and she enjoyed her season tickets for many years, especially to the football games. Bonnie attended many Badger Bowl games throughout the country and made many friends in doing so. She also was an avid Packer and Brewer’s fan. Republican politics were very important to Bonnie where she volunteered many hours on many campaigns at the local, state and national level. Bonnie was a Wisconsin Republican Delegate in 1988 in New Orleans, 1992 in Houston, 1996 in San Diego, and in 2000 in Philadelphia. She was also a past member of the Wisconsin Funeral Director’s Examining Board for eight years serving as a public member. Bonnie was an avid Ford fan and really enjoyed her 2003 red Ford Mustang convertible. She and her good friend and companion, Bob Hanson, enjoyed many rides, especially with the Open Air Classic Car Cruises each year. She also enjoyed her annual fishing expeditions in Chetek.
Survivors of Bonnie include several cousins, her good friend and companion Bob Hanson of Highland, and countless friends throughout the country.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her father Carroll in 1977, uncle Harold Plattner in 1992, her mother Mildred in 1998, and by her aunt Grace Plattner in 1998.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday Nov. 16, 2012 at the Fennimore United Methodist Church with burial to follow in the Ebenezer Cemetery in Wingville Township Grant Co., WI. Rev Duane Andrus and Pastor Jeff Vanden Heuval will be officiating. Friends may call from 3-7:00 P.M. on Thursday evening Nov. 15, 2012 at the Larson Family Funeral Home in Fennimore and from 10:00 A.M. until the time of service at the church on Friday morning.
Thank you to everyone who visited and helped Bonnie, including the entire staff at Fennimore Good Samaritan Society. A special thank you to Rick & Pam Nelson who helped Bonnie in so many ways with daily visits to the Good Samaritan Society, and her home for the last 18 months.