Bonnie Jean Master, age 93, passed away on May 6, 2026. She was born on May 22, 1932, to Leo and Helen Giffel in Bay City, Michigan.

A graduate of St. Joseph High School in 1950, she was the class valedictorian. Bonnie went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956 from Aquinas College. Bonnie also earned a Master of Science in Education in 1973 and an Education Specialist certificate in 1980, both from Indiana University.

Bonnie devoted 34 years of her career to teaching elementary school aged children. While still an undergraduate, she first taught at St. Joseph School in Bay City. Upon graduating, she taught for two years in local schools in the Grand Rapids area.

In November 1957, Bonnie married Jack R. Master and gave birth to their only child in September 1958.

From 1959 through 1990, Bonnie taught elementary grade students, spending two years at Samuel Strong School, followed by the next 25 years at St. Vincent School, where she was then named school principal in 1982. She finished her teaching career with two years at St. John's School in Goshen, Indiana.

Upon completing her teaching career, Bonnie went on to work for 14 additional years as Director of Fund Development and Public Relations for the Indiana Lakeland Girl Scout Council in Goshen, Indiana. She was involved in cookie procurement and distribution as well as operations/logistics management for Girl Scout area summer camps.

Bonnie’s Roman Catholic faith was at the center of her life. She was an active member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish from 1959 to 2023. She served as a Eucharistic Minister, both during Mass and by traveling to bring The Body of Christ to folks living in nursing homes throughout the Elkhart area. Bonnie also served as a liturgy reader and was an early and long-standing member of the Parish Council. She was an active member in the Daughters of Isabella Catholic women’s organization.

Bonnie was a benefactor and an active volunteer with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Elkhart. In her later years, she volunteered at Elkhart General Hospital and served as recording secretary on the hospital auxiliary.

At home, Bonnie closely followed Tigers baseball and Lions football. Later in her life, Payton Manning became a special favorite. She also enjoyed flower gardening, designing and sewing apparel, and creating and firing ceramics. Over the last 10 years, she enjoyed crocheting infant blankets that she donated to the Elkhart General Hospital Pediatric department. Bonnie enjoyed collecting and displaying her extensive Madonna statue collection. She also enjoyed her many apple themed keepsakes that decorated her home.

Over the past 3 years, Bonnie lived in Farmington Hills, Michigan. she is preceded in death by her husband Jack, her parents, and her sister, Patricia Nordstrom. She is survived by her brother Leon (Marge) Giffel of Bay City and her son, Jack (Lizza Magbanua) in Farmington Hills.

A Funeral Mass for Bonnie will be held at St. Fabian Catholic Church in Farmington Hills, Michigan. She will be laid to rest beside her husband Jack, in St. Vincent de Paul Cemetery, Elkhart, Indiana.