Obituaries

January 4, 1929 to May 11, 2014

WINAMAC - Bonita "Bonnie" Rausch, 85, Winamac, passed away at 8:16 p.m., Sunday, May 11, at Pulaski Health Care Center, Winamac.

She was born Jan. 4, 1929, in Minneapolis-St. Paul, to the late Elliott H. and Margaret A. Lenzner Brady. She married Daniel Raymond Rausch on March 30, 1948, in Pulaski, IN. He passed away May 30, 1996.

Survivors include:

Christine (Bob ) Smith, Winamac, Daughter
Judy (Butch) Fitz, Winamac, Daughter
Jeannie Neff, Winamac, Daughter
Tony Rausch, Winamac, Son
Barney (Patti-Jo) Rausch, Winamac, Son
8 Grandchildren
5 Great Grandchildren
Juan Knarr, Winamac, Sister

Preceded in death by:
Mark Rausch, Son
Virginia Koepkey, Sister
Franklin Brady, Brother
William Brady, Brother

Mrs. Raush attended Pulaski High School. She was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, Northern Indiana Power From the Past, Tops, Cops and the Pulaski County Historical Society. She frequently served on the Franklin Twp election team. She was a frequent blood donor. 

She grew a business known as "Bonnie's Punkins" from a self-serve change bucket in the 1960s, located north of Winamac. Generations of neighboring school children enjoyed the pumpkin patch. Mrs. Rausch enjoyed feeding birds, crocheting snow flakes and afghans. She logged over 60,000 miles on her bicycle "Blue Boy." She frequently roller skated down US 35 and hiked for hours in the Tippecanoe River State Park. She also enjoyed picking flowers and berries that she used to make jams and jellies. She was known to push mow her three acres in the sweltering heat while wearing her tube top and short shorts. She pulled weeds while cursing them. She would then throw them into her eternally smoldering burn pile. Her favorite saying was "I never met a flower that I didn't love".

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, at Frain Mortuary, Winamac. The funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, (May 14), at Frain Mortuary, Winamac, with Rev. Bert Woolson officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter's Cemetery, Winamac.

Memorial donations may be given to Friends of the Tippecanoe River State Park.