Bonita “Bonnie” Fusiek

Bonita “Bonnie” Fusiek, 70, of Lafayette passed away on Friday, October 4, 2024, in Kissimmee, FL.  She was born November 12, 1953, in Hamilton, OH to the late Richard and Dorothy (Gutzwiller) Payne.

Bonnie graduated from Badin High School in Hamilton, OH, St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, IN, and earned her Master’s Degree from Purdue University.

Her marriage was to William J. Fusiek, and he preceded her in death in 1992.

She was retired from serving as the English Department Head at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, IN and had also taught at Tippecanoe Junior High School and Sunnyside Middle School.

Surviving is her daughter Agnes Fusiek of Lafayette, stepchildren Brenda (Doug) Butler of Bradenton, FL, William A. (Lisa) Fusiek, Betsy Kinsinger all of Lafayette, Brooke (Adam) Yeater of Tucson, AZ, 10 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren.

Also surviving are her siblings Mary (Tom) Bulach, Martha Bulach, Richard (Lyla) Payne, Edith (Don) Schneider, Christina Herold, William Payne, Dennis (Robin) Payne, Teresa (Phil) Hetterich, and Joseph (Julie) Payne, and a sister-in-law Dianne Terrell.

Bonnie was preceded in death by siblings Dorothy Rhodus and Timothy Payne, brothers-in-law Ron Rhodus, Dick Bulach, Tom Herold, and William Terrell, and a son-in-law Michael Kinsinger.

Bonnie dedicated her life to serving others. She was loved and cherished by her children and grandchildren. Never too busy to share her expertise for a school project or an essay, Bonnie’s mastery of the English language, her writing skills, and her thoughtful suggestions inspired and aided her children repeatedly. She was a loving, caring mother who brightened every day with her great sense of humor and her incredible ability to listen.

One of twelve children, Bonnie was cherished by her older and younger siblings. She was a Cincinnati Reds fan and enjoyed many games during the Big Red Machine’s dominance in the 1970s.

Bonnie was an avid reader and a devoted educator who shared her love of literature with her students. She had a gift for being able to reach all students, from those who struggled to those who excelled. She encouraged everyone she encountered in her profession, mentoring students and other teachers. As department head, she spent countless hours planning curriculum and supporting colleagues. She helped budding writers at the Writing Enrichment Center at Jefferson High School and as the sponsor of literary publications at Sunnyside Middle and Jefferson High Schools. Her legacy continues in teachers who student taught with her, in teachers she supported, and in her family members who also became teachers.

Visitation will be from 3:00 pm until the time of the memorial service at 4:00 pm on Saturday, November 2, 2024, at Soller-Baker Lafayette Chapel, 400 Twyckenham Blvd.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to United Way of Greater Lafayette or the American Heart Association in Bonnie’s memory.