Bonnie L. Nesbit, 91, nee Funk, of Belleville, IL, born March 21, 1933, in Freeburg Township, IL, died Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at Memorial Hospital, Belleville, IL.
Bonnie was born on the family farm in Freeburg Township, and always proud to point out the family farmhouse on Jefferson Road, her birthplace. Up the road was the Funk Schoolhouse on the property donated by her ancestors. She rode the yellow school bus to and from Mascoutah to attend school.
Her career spanned forty-one years which began as a Deputy Sheriff at the St. Clair County Courthouse assisting with courtroom and juror management. Her career continued with playing a role in the development, organization, and management of the first official in-house Public Defender Office which exists as an integral part of the justice system. Later her career included staff appointments to numerous Illinois Appellate Court Justices and Illinois Supreme Court Justice. She received numerous accolades for her dedicated service along with an honorary Law Day proclamation. A plaque in her honor remains on display in the St. Clair County Law Library.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her husband, Charles B. Nesbit, whom she married on September 3, 1956, at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Belleville. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Arnold and Ruth, nee Curry, Funk, four sisters, Nelda Koch, Sharon Kaemmerer, Peggy Whitlow, Sandra Peterson; and two brothers, Dean and Darrel Funk.
Surviving are her daughter, Charlene B. Stehlick of Millstadt; her son, Walter G. (Jane) Nesbit of Belleville; eight grandchildren, Robert (Grace) McCullough, Andrew and Timothy McCullough, Kate (Ryan) Orwig, Julia Stehlick, Anne (Rob) Alred, Madeline (Scott) Krutel, and Maureen (Kevin) Dunn; nine great-grandchildren, Collin, Declan, Shane and Finnegan Orwig, Lucas and Walter Alred, Charles and Joseph Krutel, and Kinley Dunn; a brother, Arnold Funk; and sisters and best friends, Jewel Baker and Mary Beth Finney.
Down the Road
“The bittersweet of partings knell unfolds emotions hard to tell,
But never doubt a single bit o’l father time has served his writ,
Upon the likes of us who served for forty years and plus.”
If you wish, and with gratitude, memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Cathedral Food Pantry, 200 West Harrison Street, Belleville, IL, 62220. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday, September 27, 2024, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, September 27, 2024, George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. James Buerster officiating.
Entombment will be at Green Mount Catholic Mausoleum, Belleville, IL.
