Bonna Jean Vanderlyn

Bonna Jean Vanderlyn was born on July 21, 1931, in Hartford, the daughter of Fred and Vera (Vernon) Modro. Bonna passed away May 5, 2020.

Bonna graduated from Hartford High School as part of the class of 1949. She married Arthur Vanderlyn and together they built, owned and operated the Hartford Harding's Market. Art passed away on Sept. 15, 1970. She was a member of the Hartford United Methodist Church and a stenographer for the State of Michigan. Loving her community, Bonna was a generous donor to many organizations, including the Hartford Fire Department, Hartford Public Schools, Hartford School Foundation, Hartford United Methodist Church, the American Cancer Society and local humane societies, to name a few. Bonna purchased a fire truck for the Hartford Fire Department, endowed a scholarship fund for Hartford graduates and donated 1.3 million dollars to the Hartford Public Library for building the Arthur and Bonna Vanderlyn Community Center.

Bonna is survived by her nephew, Scott (Denise) Smith; two great-nieces, Amanda (Steve) Veldman and Bethany (Justin) Diesbourg; sister-in-law, Donna Anderson; special friend, Erin (Ernie) Goodson, whom she often introduced as her granddaughter; cousin, Jeanne (Richard) VanDeventer; and all the citizens of Hartford.

Bonna loved serving the Hartford community through her ownership of Hartford Harding's, and became a founding member of a group that made it possible for Harding's to survive as a family-owned business of several area Harding's stores, including Garland Smith, Marty Hill, Rich Glidden, Dave Gearhart, the late Tom Harding and her special friend and advisor, Bryan Hettinghouse.

Bonna appreciated the help of Hartford Store Manager, Tim Hildebrand; Harding's management, Curtis Devries and Tony Medlin; and legal advisor, Jim Beck; that helped her in her later years when she couldn't participate in the day-to-day operations of the store.

The family would like to thank the staff at Caretel Inns, Private Duty Home Healthcare and Caring Circle-Hospice for her care.

Due to shelter in place guidelines, private graveside services were held and Bonna was laid to rest next to Art in Maple Hill Cemetery. A celebration of life will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at the Hartford United Methodist Church with Pastor Stephanie Norton officiating. To protect everyone a facial covering is being required to be worn during the service. A dedication of the Art and Bonna Vanderlyn Community Center will follow at 3:30 p.m. Both services will be streamed live on the Hartford United Methodist Church Facebook page. For social distance planning, please RSVP to the Hartford United Methodist Church at 269-621-4103.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hartford Public Library for the Arthur and Bonna Vanderlyn Community Center.

The family has entrusted the Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford, with arrangements. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at http://www.calvin-leonardfh.com.