Alice Joy Bohnstedt

Alice Joy Bohnstedt passed away May 22, 2023 at the age of 96. She was Born February 18, 1927 in Whitley county, Washington Township, Tunker, Indiana in the farm house that was her home.  She attended Church of the Brethern in Tunker where she was baptized in 1947. She married Ed Bohnstedt, April 16,1950, at the South Whitley Church of the Brethren with Vernon Stinebaugh officiating. Ed and Alice lived in Troy Township and later moved to Columbia City Indiana that remains the family home.  Her husband, Ed Bohnstedt, passed away in 1993.

While living in Etna, where her father taught school, she attended first, second and third grade. Completed fourth grade at Washington Center. She completed her fifth and sixth grades in Saint Joe, Indiana where her father taught school. When the family moved back to live on the family farm near Tunker, she attended Washington Center High School where she graduated in 1946.  After graduation she attended business school and home economics at Manchester College.

She taught Sunday School Class at the Church of the Brethren in Columbia City for 22 years.  Her other activities at the church were playing the piano, lead in singing, helped mow the church yard, was secretary of the church and took care of the attendance and offering. She was most recently, a member of Community of Hope Church in Columbia City.

She was a member of the Whitley County 4-H club for 11 years.  Alice was honored in a letter, from the county, that listed all members in 4-H club and the number of years they had been in the club.  The letter stated that she had been in the club the longest of anyone in the county. Took her 4-H calf to the State Fair and received second place award in showmanship and a championship ribbon on her calf.  She and her mother and sisters played an 8 hand piano piece in a contest at the state fair.  Received 3rd place award.  It was a piece played by four people playing the piano at one time.

Her first job was working at the Tunker Grocery while she was still at home. She would walk home after work on a country road that was so dark she couldn’t see the side of the road. She spent time helping her grandmother who taught her how to sew and crochet. She worked at Whitley products in Pierceton, Indiana, Christian Resources, Farm bureau, Trading Post Clothing Store in Columbia City, and Chamberlain Products Factory in South Whitley. She worked for Dollar General in Columbia City for 20 years. Fifteen of those years she was assistant manager.

She worked on the family farm when growing up feeding hogs, milking cows, driving horses, gardening, gathering fire wood from the woods, etc. loved sewing and needle work

Alice is survived by her children, Joyce ( Anthony) Hiscutt, Cindy (Tom) McAtee, and Jim Bohnstedt; sister Wanda Friesen of San Luis Obispo, CA; six grandchildren Travis Baker, Alicia Sparks, Timothy Hiscutt, Karianna Clifford, Colton Bohnstedt and Caden Bohnstedt; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She preceded in death by her husband Ed Bohnstedt; her father, Harry Bollinger, Sr.; mother, Joyce Reed Bollinger; brothers, Harry Bollinger, Jr. of Grant County and John Bollinger, of Whitley County; sister, Mary Thomas of Whitley County; and daughter, Becky Clifford and son-in-law, Dick Clifford both of Columbia City.

Visitation will be 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm Thursday, May 25, 2023 at DeMoney-Grimes Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City. Funeral service will be 10 am Friday at the funeral home with Dan Kelley officiating. Burial will follow at Eberhard Cemetery. Memorial donations may be given in her memory to Community of Hope Church. Visit www.DeMoneyGrimes.com  to send Alice's family online condolences or sign the online guest book.