Bonnie Marolynn Hain

On Monday, June 30, 2025, at the Poppen Hospice Residence, Bonnie Marolynn Corliss Hain passed quietly from this life into the next at the age of 91. She joined her beloved husband, Dick who passed away in 2023. Bonnie was born on April 16, 1934 in Hart, Michigan. She was the oldest daughter of Bertha Maud Campbell Corliss and Keith Corliss.

Bonnie's father, Keith, owned and managed the Mears Food Center in Mears, Michigan. Growing up in Mears, her life revolved around school, the family store and her church Sunday School class. She was a straight A student and boasted perfect attendance at Sunday School.

The year 1952 became one of the most memorable and consequential years of her life. Bonnie was the co-salutatorian of her 1952 Hart High School graduating class. She was crowned Miss Oceana County and tap-danced and competed in the Miss Michigan contest. She also began her studies at Central Michigan College of Education. But most importantly she met the man she would marry, Richard (Dick) Wiley Hain Jr. while visiting her Aunt Ruth Corliss at her cottage by Duck Lake. Dick's parents were building a home not too far from Ruth's cottage. You put a beauty queen in a bathing suit on a beach and a Purdue frat boy in a canoe on Duck Lake just yards away from that beach, and well, the rest is history. Bonnie married Dick on August 28, 1954. Dick's career as a civil engineer eventually took them to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1958 where they started their family.

Bonnie, Dick and their family became members of Elmbrook Baptist Church in 1965 where Bonnie's spiritual journey continued. Details of her life and her journey can be read in her 2015 self-published autobiography, "Mama Sang Hymns : The Story of My Journey of Faith." It's a journey that an obituary cannot do justice.

In 1979 Dick's career took him to Lakewood, Colorado where they lived until 1997 when Dick retired. They then moved back to Mears, Michigan, just a short distance from where Bonnie grew up. Their new house had a swimming pool and they found themselves leading a backyard pool ministry with local Mears kids who wanted to enjoy their pool. Bonnie & Dick had a great impact on the kids, many of whom have remained in touch. Finally, in 2005 Bonnie and Dick found themselves back where they began and living at the Hain house by Duck Lake taking care of Dick's dad, while also continuing to care for Bonnie's mom, both of whom were in their 90's. They became members of the Fruitland Covenant Church and enjoyed the fellowship of all their neighbors and friends who attended.

Throughout her life she wrote poems and self-published 2 books of poetry, "Discovery" in 1966 and "Dimensions" in 1967. She also found time to be a Remedial Reading Teacher in the Milwaukee area. She was an avid Bible reader and always ready to share her testimony. She also traveled and spoke for Christian Women's Clubs throughout Wisconsin and the midwest. Her family will always remember her as an amazing baker. Fifteen loaves of homemade bread were child's play for her. Pecan rolls, wacky cakes, banana cake, cinnamon muffins, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, Swedish pancakes and more. She left a baking legacy that will truly be missed.

Bonnie is survived by her 3 sons (a.k.a. Bonnie's Boys), Chris (Maria) Hain, Rick Hain and Bob Hain; 5 grandchildren, Will, Chloe, Mateo, Ricky and Jack; her sister Connie Corliss (Bob) Bricker; sisters-in-law Marylyn Hain Link and Cleo Soule Corliss, along with many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers please consider donations to the Leila and Cyrus Poppen Hospice Residence of Muskegon or the Fruitland Covenant Church in Whitehall, Michigan.

A memorial service will be held for Bonnie at Fruitland Covenant Church in Whitehall, Michigan on Saturday, July 12 at 11:00 a.m. Lunch to follow.

Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guestbook.

Clock Funeral Home - Muskegon