Bonnie Lee Fritzemeyer

Notes:

Obit:
Bonnie Lee Blackwell of Leslie, MO departed this life on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at the New Haven Care Center in New Haven, MO. She had reached the age of 83 years, five months, and eight days. 

Bonnie was born on December 5, 1931, in Spring Bluff, MO the daughter of the late Ervin Fritzemeyer and wife, Mildred, nee Schebaum. She was united in marriage to Milton (Squeech) Delmar Blackwell, on May 19, 1951 at St. Paul's UCC Church in Gerald. They first made their home north of Gerald and later in Leslie. Bonnie was a member of the St. Paul's United Church of Christ in Gerald, where she was baptized on and confirmed in 1947. She was an active member of Women's Fellowship. She served on the Church Council over the years as well as numerous church committees.

Bonnie attended elementary school at the good Hope School near Gerald. She was a graduate of Union High School. She earned her bachelor's degree in education from Southwest Missouri State in Springfield, MO and later received her Master's degree from Drury College in Springfield, MO. Bonnie began teaching at the Old Beaufort School. She taught for 34 years, retiring in 1983. She taught at Adams School, Gerald Elementary, Edgar Murray School in St. Clair, and in the Parkway School District in St. Louis County.

Bonnie was a member of the Franklin County Retired Teacher's Association, MRTA, NEA, MSTA, and was also named as a “Teacher of the Year” in Franklin County. In recent years, Bonnie served as a member on the Crawford Electric Charitable Board and was an active participant in “The Citizens for Private Property.”

Bonnie loved to travel and visited most of the United States. After retirement, she made several trips to Europe and also received a Fellowship Grant to China. She adored her family and doted on them all her life. Bonnie loved the outdoors, working on the farm, and gardening.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ervin and Mildred (Schebaum) Fritzemeyer; four brother-in-laws, Milford Blackwell, Earl Blackwell, Ervin Blackwell, and Gene Schroeder; two sister-in-laws, Mildred Venneri and Clara Blackwell. 

Bonnie is survived by her husband, Milton (Squeech) Blackwell; two sisters, Doris Fritzemeyer and Loretta Schroeder of Gerald; two brothers, Ervin Fritzemeyer and wife, Karen of Gerald; and Edward Fritzemeyer and wife, Janice of Leslie; nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. 

Funeral services will be Saturday, May 16, 2015 at 10:00 AM at St. Paul's UCC Church in Gerald with Pastor Glen Hollander officiating. Burial will in the St. Paul's UCC Cemetery in Gerald. Visitation will be Friday, May 15 at 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Gerald. 

Memorials may be given to St. Paul's Christian Board of Education, Franklin County Retired Teachers, or the Union R-11 School District/Beaufort School.

Buried:
Evangelical Saint Paul Cemetery

Family/Spouse: Milton Delmar Blackwell. Milton (son of John Newton Blackwell and Joanne Alice Childers) was born on 14 Sep 1924 in Gerald, Franklin Co., MO; died on 19 Apr 2018 in Washington, Franklin Co., MO; was buried in Gerald, Franklin Co., MO. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]