Obituary

Bonnie L. Chesnut, 73, of Atwood, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2017, after a brief stay at Heritage Health Care Center in Mt. Zion, Illinois.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 23 at the Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, 66 U.S. Highway 36, Atwood, with Brian Henningsen officiating. A visitation will be held two hours prior to the service. Burial will be in Hammond Cemetery, Hammond.

Bonnie was born November 27, 1943 in Mattoon, the daughter of Charles Vernon and Evelyn (Casey) Wilson. Her family moved to Atwood when she was nine years old, and she told wonderful stories of her childhood, including many adventures with her pets and the lifelong friends she made. She graduated from Atwood-Hammond High School with the Class of 1961.

She married Jerry Chesnut on June 3, 1961, in Atwood, and they enjoyed fifty years of marriage before his death on March 13, 2011. She was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother, and "Gigi". She had many hobbies including painting and beautiful seamstress work that would often accompany the woodworking projects Jerry built.

Bonnie was known by many for her faith in Jesus and her work in ministry and teaching. She also worked as a librarian for Unity Township Library and as librarian at Atwood-Hammond High School and Judah Christian High School in Champaign.

Together Bonnie and Jerry raised four children: Lori (Scott) Knudsen, Elisa (Bob) Jamison, Amy (Steve) Davis, and Josh (Karen) Chesnut. They were blessed with fourteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren - so far.

Other survivors include her sister Barb Eyestone of Champaign and brother Steve Wilson of Morgan Hill, CA. She was recently preceded in death by her sister, Beverly Maddox of New Braunfels, TX.

She eagerly awaited reunion with Jerry and their granddaughter Jenny Davis in God's loving presence.

Online condolences may be shared via hilligossshraderfh.com

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