Bonnie Joyal

She was born on March 11, 1935, in Detroit, the daughter of the late Royce and Dorothy (Baer) Weideman. She was raised in Hart and graduated from the Hart High School with the Class of 1952.

Following graduation, Bonnie attended the Edward W. Sparrow School of Nursing for three years becoming a Registered Nurse. She began working at St. Lawrence Hospital in Lansing and eventually began her career at Lansing Ob/Gyn where she would remain until retirement.

During Bonnie’s time as an RN, she met a car accident patient at the hospital, his name was Douglas Joyal, and the couple married on September 14, 1956. The Joyals had moved to Big Rapids while Douglas attended Ferris State University. They then moved to East Lansing where they would raise their family. Following retirement, the couple moved to Arizona for a winter and then eventually moved to Douglas’s hometown of Dollar Bay.

Bonnie was a member of First Lutheran Church in Dollar Bay. She volunteered in the Gift Shop at Portage Health and played a key role in the development of the Dialysis Unit there. She also was a parish nurse. Bonnie was a member of a women’s chorus called “Sweet Adeline’s.” Her Quartet “Electric Chords” went on to compete in London, Boston, and Seattle.

Besides her parents, Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Douglas; her daughter, Lynn “Claudette”; and a sister, Becky.

She is survived by her children, Michael (Marie) of Dollar Bay, Laine Maxson of Dollar Bay, Mark (Florence) of Ripley, and Lisa (Donald) McGehee of Okemos; 18 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Judy Murbach of Dollar Bay; a son-in-law, Michael Curl of Dimondale; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services for Bonnie will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at First Lutheran Church in Dollar Bay with Vicar Micah Cavaleri officiating.

Friends may call on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 from 10 a.m. until the time of services at the church.

To view Bonnie’s obituary or to send condolences to the family, please visit memorialchapel.net.

The Memorial Chapel & Plowe Funeral Home of Hancock is assisting the family with the arrangements.