Bonnie Eileen Hammitt

Bonnie Eileen (Dague) Hammitt, 80, Berne, passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2019, at her residence. She was born on July 1, 1939, in Decatur, Indiana, to the late William and Lela (Baumgartner) Dague. Bonnie married her high school sweetheart, Phil Hammitt, on October 6, 1956, in Berne.

From the age of twelve, she attended the Mount Hope Church of the Nazarene, sometimes walking across the field with her siblings to the church. She served in many positions including Sunday School and VBS teacher as well as church board secretary and member. She and Phil had a passion for Work-n-Witness ministries, both local and abroad. Their excursions included ministry trips to Puerto Rico, the Azores, Jamaica, and Honduras. She was employed at CTS, Ben Franklin, Rich Monuments, and the Berne Public Library for twenty years, where she was known as the “library lady.” Bonnie lovingly orchestrated the expansive mural that decorates the walls of the children’s department, where she directed the many programs and activities with passion and enthusiasm. She will always be remembered for selling strawberries, cider (Bonnie’s brew), and sweet corn among other endeavors.

She is survived by two sisters, Nancy (Richard) Myers, Jane (Dave) Haworth; one brother, Larry (Johanna) Dague; two sisters-in-law, Sally (Larry) Parman, Advance, IN, and Merle Hammitt, Jacksonville, FL; one daughter, Beth (Mike) Steury, Berne; three sons, Kinley (Rhea), Berne; Curt (Rene’), Corunna, IN; Craig (fiancée Kathy Hesher), Lafayette. Nineteen grandchildren: Jenna (Adam) Langston and Colton Steury; Vincent, Tracer, and Cassie Hammitt; Noah, Elly, Branson, Shiloh, Jacey, Carsten, Molly, Zayne, Grace, Davyn, Victoriana, and Rylan Hammitt; Eric (Laura) Hammitt and Cieara (David) Wengerd. Five great-grandchildren: Dylan Langston, Laithon, Blaikly, and Emmitt Wengerd and Abigail Cress.

Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, brother Don Dague; sisters-in-law Jan Dague and Sharon Dague; and brother-in-law, David Hammitt.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 12, 2019, at the Mount Hope Church of the Nazarene, with Pastor David Cox officiating. Interment will follow in Willard Mount Hope Cemetery.

Friends and family may call on Friday, October 11, 2019, from 3 – 8 pm at Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home – Yager- Kirchhofer Chapel in Berne and one hour prior to the funeral service on Saturday at the church.

Preferred memorials can be made to the Berne Public Library Children’s Department or Church of the Nazarene Work-n-Witness ministries.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Zwick & Jahn Funeral Homes - Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel in Berne, Indiana