Clara Marie "Bonnie" Fike
LEIPSIC – Clara Marie "Bonnie" Fike, 86, of Leipsic died at 6:50 a.m. Tuesday, September 04, 2012 at EMH Regional Health Center, Elyria, OH.  She was born August 27, 1926 in Lima to the late James D. and Madge M. (McClure) Purnell.  On January 29, 1946, she married the "love of her life", Robert E. Fike.  Surviving is a daughter: Nell Ann Fike of Elyria.
Clara Marie "Bonnie" was a homemaker. She was a funeral director/manager of Dedrick-Taylor Funeral Home in Grover Hill for many years and also worked with her father and mother at Purnell Funeral Home in Leipsic. After marrying Bob they went to Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and became Funeral Directors. She had been a freelance writer and gifted photographer for the Toledo Blade, Findlay Courier, Lima Citizen/Lima News and Leipsic Free Press and at one time interviewed Joe E. Brown and Danny Thomas.  She was a member of the Leipsic United Methodist Church where she had been on many committees; choir member and a member of the United Methodist Women's Circle. She was also a member of District 5 Ohio Funeral Directors where she and her husband had been recognized for 50 years of service; the Order of the Amaranth Indianapolis Court #1, Dooryard Garden Branch of Woman's National Farm and Garden Assoc.; National Society of Daughters of American Colonists, Old Trails Chapter, National Society of United States Daughters of 1812 Jacob Stemple Chapter #243, Lima; Charles J. Wagner Post #287 of the American Legion Auxiliary; a life member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Leipsic; past chief of the Pythian Sisters and past chief and member of the local Pythian Sisters past chief's circle; past noble-grand of the Rebecca Lodge and charter member of the Putnam County Friends of the Library.  Clara Marie had been a Blue Bird and Girl Scout leader; talented oil painter and for many years decorated wedding and specialty cakes.  She enjoyed helping her husband Bob with his watch clocks, "Stripes In Time", and they also traveled throughout many states doing extensive genealogy research.
A funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 8, 2012 at the Leipsic United Methodist Church with Pastor Bill Patterson officiating. Burial will follow in Sugar Ridge Cemetery, Leipsic.  Visitation will be from 3 to 8 pm Friday at LOVE-HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME,  Leipsic and one hour prior to service Saturday at the church.
Memorials may be made to the American Lung Association, American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association.
Condolences may be expressed at: www.lovefuneralhome.com

---