Bonnie Owens

WAYNE - Bonnie Lou Owens, a longtime educator in Nebraska schools, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, in Wayne at Careage Campus.

Graveside services for Bonnie Lou Owens, 96, of Wayne, formerly of Grand Island, will be 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at Greenwood Cemetery Wayne. Visitation will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at Hasemann Funeral Home in Wayne. Memorial services in Grand Island will be 2 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church, 2103 West Anna St.

Memorials may be directed to the Owens family for later designation.

Bonnie Lou was born Dec. 26, 1920, at her grandparent Davis' farm west of Carroll to John and Amanda (Davis) Owens. While living near Sholes, she was home-schooled for her first grade because of snowy roads and then she began her second grade in Sholes. When her family moved to a farm west of Carroll in 1936, Bonnie Lou completed her secondary education in Carroll, graduating second in her class.

She attended Wayne State College for two years and then taught in Wayne County District 51 for two years. She continued her education by correspondence and summer school sessions to receive her bachelor's degree in 1947 with a major in English and a minor in music. She then taught in Stanton and Crete schools before moving to Grand Island, teaching first at Barr Junior High and then at Grand Island High School. In this position she was chairman of the English-Language Department. Ms. Owens attended many of the national English teachers meetings, as well as representing her school system at the National Education Association conversation. She loved her students, her fellow teachers and she kept up to date with the latest innovations in teaching. She attended summer school at the University of Northern Colorado at Greely and received her master's degree in counseling and guidance. During her tenure in Grand Island, Ms. Owens taught a speed reading class to business persons in the area, she represented the teachers to the Board of Education concerning policy and salary, and she served as president of the G.I.E.A.

Bonnie Lou enjoyed traveling to Europe and especially to Wales. She was proud of her Welsh heritage and was a faithful member of the St. David's Welsh Society of Nebraska, serving as president for several terms. She was a longtime member of Delta Kappa Gamma and Eastern Star.

Bonnie Lou and some of her fellow teachers had cabins at Lake Erickson where she loved to garden, fish and entertain friends and family in the summertime.

She was preceded in death by her parents and brother-in-law Robert Simmons.

Bonnie Lou leaves behind a loving family: Marilyn Simmons of Torrington, Wyoming, Ruth Ludwig (Walter) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Milton Owens (Jaqulyn) of Carroll and Judith Temme (Richard) of Columbus. Bonnie's nieces and nephews were like her children: Bruce Simmons (Beth), David Owens (Shelly), John Ludwig (Sue), Paul Ludwig (Uzma), Leanne Correll (Fred) and Megan Marr (Doug).

Her love extended to great-nieces and great-nephews: Jennifer, Nichole and Heather Owens; John, Coy and Tiffany Simmons; Cole, Amanda and Emmy Coxbill; Josh, David and Emily Marr; Seth, Jessie and Jenna Ludwig; and Shirin and Danial Ludwig.

Grandnieces and nephews have been visiting Bonnie this past year in Careage Campus of Care in Wayne and they brightened her days with games, reading and piano playing.

Bonnie was an inspiration to us all and her presence on this earth will be greatly missed.