- Date Of Birth: August 23, 1956
- Date Of Death: January 19, 2021
- State: Indiana
Bunnie was born into a fine working-class family, third of four children, two older sisters, Debbie and Nancy, a younger brother Raymond (Butch). The work ethic that was shown to her by her parents was a lesson she lived until the end. Louie and Lois took the kids on road trips to visit with family in Michigan City and vacation trips to many places. When Bunnie was about eight years old the family started camping. First with an old army tent, upgrading to a pop up then on to various travel trailers. Bunnie never lost the love of camping and hiking. She had a few favorite places to camp and she returned many times over the years. She enjoyed finding new and exciting places to visit, with her favorite place being the Wheatland Music Festival, where she would camp out and listen and dance to music all weekend. She did not miss a Wheatland festival for thirty seven consecutive years. Another must go to Music Festival was the Niles Bluegrass festival, where in 2015 she and Greg received the Nilesgrass Hall of Fame “Fan Award”.
Bunnie and Greg had their first date on July 4, 1976 and finally went ahead and got married on August 1, 2006. Thirty years wasn’t to long to wait and make it legal, right?
Previous to working at the parks Bunnie got a cosmetology license at Vogue Beauty School after graduating from Clay High School in 1974. Had she gone to Herron School of Art as she wanted, her life would have likely taken a very different path.
Bunnie’s love for family didn’t stop with her immediate family. She found extended family at Calvary Baptist Church and the DeColores ministries of Southwest Michigan. She framed many lasting friendships while serving others with the DeColores retreat weekends.
Bunnie didn’t need to change her name from Studt to Joy to spread joy to others. She will be remembered by her positive and helpful nature, and a smile that showed like sunshine.
