Lydia Rahn Bonkowski

Lydia Rahn Bonkowski, 94, of Benton Harbor, went to meet her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, Wednesday, April 02, 2014 at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center.  A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 10:00 A.M. Monday at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church,  Colfax & Kline Avenues, Benton Harbor, with Rev. Jeremy Laitinen officiating.  Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph.  Friends may visit with the family beginning at 9:00 A.M. Monday at the church.  Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church or Michigan Lutheran High School.  Those wishing to sign Lydia’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Lydia was born April 6, 1919 in Leslau, Poland to Friedrich & Albertina (Koerber) Rahn.  On May 21, 1939, she married Alexander Bonkowski in Poland.  In 1947 the family fled from Poland to Germany, and in 1952 they moved from Germany to the United States, settling in Benton Harbor. Lydia & Alexander operated a fruit farm in Sodus Township for thirty-five plus years.  She was a member of St. Matthew’s where she sang in the choir and played her guitar.  Lydia, in her free time, played her guitar and enjoyed sewing, baking, cooking for her family and tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. Joyful in generosity, she shared the many fruits of her talents and work, with family, friends, and those she newly met.  Lydia is survived by her children-Naomi “Amy” (Henry) Miller of Muncie, IN, Elli (Willi Heinz) Maas of Benton Harbor, Benno (Susan Hedrick, PhD) Bonkowski of Vashon Island, WA, Brigitte Bonkowski of Benton Harbor; four grandchildren-Thomas (Karol) Maas, Susan (Rev. David) Rosenau, Edward (Allison, MD) Miller, Stephen (Lynn) Miller, PhD; twelve great-grandchildren-Brittany, Amanda, Luke, Katie, Ella Rosenau; Taylor, Tommy, Hailey, Reese Maas; Thea, Emerson Miller; Grayson Miller; her sister-Martha Wegert of Saginaw, MI; and numerous nieces & nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husband Alexander on April 9, 1986, and by siblings-Friedrich, Edward, & Gustav Rahn, Ella Rossol & Frieda Graham.