Bonnie Rae Brown

Bonnie is survived by her children: Robert (Mary) Brown of Grovertown, IN; Dona Schoenbeck of El Cajon, CA; and Charles (Susan) Brown of West Peoria. She was a cherished grandmother to her grandchildren: Sarah (Justin) Youvan, Sunny Nickel, Rebecca Brown, Kathleen Egan, Priscilla Brown, Kayce (Steven) Severin, Michael Brown, and her six great-grandchildren: Mackenzie Youvan, Andrew Youvan, Kayleigh Brown, Evan Platt, Zachary Severin, and Jonah Severin. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 74 years, John Richard "Dick" Brown; her sisters, Beverly "Babs" Lofgren and Barbara "Bobbie" Miller; and her daughter, Susan Egan. Bonnie was born to Edmund Baker and Elenora Endorf on September 27th, 1926, in Clinton, Iowa.

She grew up in Peoria, attending Peoria High School and later St. Luke's Hospital, where she graduated as a Registered Nurse in 1948. She applied her skills in caring for her children. Bonnie met her soulmate, Dick while pursuing her nursing degree. They married on January 5th, 1948, and remained devoted to each other for 74 years. Aside from her dedication to family, Bonnie had a vibrantly green thumb, excelled at card games, particularly bridge, and shared a love for puzzles, theatre, music, and travel with Dick and their dear friends. They were active Willow Knolls Country Club members and University United Methodist Church, where Bonnie contributed her time to the Methodist Thrift store. Bonnie also was an active as an election judge, volunteering with PTAs, Scouts, Zeller Zone Mental Health Center, and was a devoted friend, keeping friendships for lifetimes, maintaining an active correspondence in addition to planning regular meetups, and acting as the reunion organizer for both herself and Dick's high school classes. Bonnie was the backbone of her family, rarely missing significant events in their lives. Though she never learned to swim, she instilled a love for swimming in her children, who became lifeguards. Swim team members cherish excelling in the sport, and this tradition continues through her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Bonnie and Dick's passion for travel took them to over 50 countries across all continents except Antarctica. Bonnie meticulously planned each trip, collecting souvenirs to share with her family and building many collections. Her favorites were dolls from around the world and Coca-Cola bottles from each country. A Celebration of Life for Bonnie will be held this summer at the University United Methodist Church in Peoria. A visitation will precede the service at [specific time] in the downstairs Dining Hall.

Cremation arrangements have been entrusted to Davison-Fulton-Woolsey-Wilton Funeral Home in Peoria, where she will be interred beside her daughter, Susan, and her husband, Dick.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Red Cross or the Alzheimer's Association in Bonnie's honor. They also suggest you enjoy a few of her favorites, such as a glass of boxed wine or a shrimp quesadilla, and your favorite dessert.