With tearful eyes we watched you and saw you pass away, and although we love you dearly we could not make you stay. Rest easy Grandma. We will love and miss forever.

Wilma and Family, I am terribly sorry to hear of Vonda’s passing. Every time I saw her it was always a pleasure. While we didn’t connect in later years I always knew it would be wonderful. I will always remember her fondly along with the rest of my family and your family. My condolences to the family, may they all stay well!

Thoughts and prayers to the entire family of Vonda. A firecracker of a lady!! She always spoke her mind!!

The Eulogy written by Vonda’s Grand Daughter Deborah: Born November 20th 1922 in Detroit Michigan, Vonda Aileen Banghart was the second child, but first daughter, in a family that eventually swelled to 7 children. Synonymous with the American Dream, a good job within the auto industry provided a comfortable and modern life for Vonda’s family. Unfortunately, the great depression came and changed that. Loss of their home and livelihood sent them north to Sterling Michigan with extended family. Utilizing their abilities to hunt, fish, and grow food allowed them to sustain and preserve. They held their dignity and self determination in a time of bread lines and men leaving their families to fan across the country, searching for labor jobs. What was Vonda’s new home? A tent in the woods and only her feet to take her wherever she needed to go. Faith in God and strength of character were forged in hard work and struggle. The reward was a tight knit community. And as a special treat for the kids, movies were shown on the side of a barn on warm summer nights. Vonda learned sewing and pattern making from her paternal grandmother, becoming skilled at repurposing old clothing during lean years and eventually creating beautiful bridal gowns and bridesmaid dresses when her two youngest daughters were married. Vonda designed and made her own clothes in high school and played on the girls’ basketball team. This developed into a lifelong love of the sport. After the service, you can see their team picture featured in it’s own frame among all the memories on display. Finishing high school in only three years, Vonda was helping her mother raise her other 5 younger siblings when they moved to Galesburg so her father and brother Erskane could work on the Morrow Dam Project. They lived in a house atop of Scrams Hill and Vonda coached girls basketball at the high school. January 18th 1941, Vonda Married John Cox, taking up residence in the upstairs of her in-law’s farmhouse. Little Wilma arrived in 1942 and not long after, John shipped out, serving the US Navy in the Pacific Theater. Young mothers shared in the care of each others’ children, providing a labor pool for local manufacturing. Vonda would walk down 35th street, (1 mile) to the railroad tracks, catch a bus to Kalamazoo, and then walk to her job. At the end of a long shift, she would do it all again, only uphill this time! She was able to purchase a small home with a hand-pump in the kitchen and outhouse out back. There was laundry to be hauled up the street to wash, a summer garden to plant, and vegetables to preserve, and three more babies to welcome into the world. The radio was always playing old hymns, baseball games, and various radio shows. Pickles were made, stray cats rescued, ladies stopping by to get their hair done. There was never enough time to read so a book often accompanied lunch , and a little rest during nap time. Friends and Family were always stopping by and baseball games were held in the front yard with all the uncles and cousins after Sunday family dinner held at the Cox’s. Along came the first grandbaby and all those ladies who had relied on Vonda to keep their hair looking nice provided her tuition for teachers’ college at Western Michigan University. Vonda’s love of nature and learning nurtured a succession of grandchildren and 25 years of first and third graders at Comstock East Elementary School. Fuzzy chicks were hatched, male seahorses gave birth, prize winning rock collections assembled, and struggling students (and grandchildren) were given a hug and told how very special they are! Material possessions mattered little to Vonda. Her life was invested in caring for others, giving freely of her time, her resources, and her love. Countless checks were written for worthy causes and personal letters written to young soldiers deployed overseas. Her family was everything to her. For the end of her story, how very gratifying it was to see a special group of caregivers (both family by birth and by choice) come together to return all that love and allow Vonda to remain in her home of 60 years. Watching her birds, surrounded by her beloved family, and shining brightly until 99. Nothing could make her happier.