Nona was born to Edward S. and Helen M. (Davis) Loechel in Sterling, IL, on November 10, 1935. She attended “Walker” Country School from grades 1st through 7th. After consolidating, she went to Milledgeville for 8th grade and high school, later graduating from the International Correspondence School of Scranton, PA. Nona married her high school sweetheart, David Bushman, on October 5, 1952, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA. This marriage lasted 60 ½ years. He preceded her in death on May 25, 2013. She worked at the Milledgeville Vet Clinic for 35 years as secretary/bookkeeper and assistant to the doctors. She was a member of the Milledgeville Brethren Church, where she was active as a Youth Leader, teaching high school Sunday School, a member of the Board, serving as Secretary for many years. Later she became a member, along with her husband, David, to the Sterling First Church of the Nazarene, where she served on the Board, worked in the clothing pantry, and being a greeter. She enjoyed golf, horseback riding, gardening and flowers, board games and movies, and card games where she had a reputation of carrying cards in her purse to entice friends and family into having a game with her! She enjoyed watching the NFL, especially the Chicago Bears, college football, and Illini basketball.
David and Nona had four children, Vicky Lynne (Alan) Deets of Chadwick, Vali Ann (Keith) Miatke of Merrillan, WI, Michael David (Karen) Bushman of Lanark, and Thomas Lee (Shannon) Bushman of Groveland; nine grandchildren, Angela Miatke (Omar Noor) of Fairfield, CA, Aaron (Brenda) Miatke of Duluth, MN, Jason (Mandi) Deets of Sterling, Ryan (Sara) Deets of Decatur, Benjamin (Melissa) Bushman of Winnebago, Joseph (Nicole) Bushman of Elmhurst, Blake (Jenny) Bushman of Tremont, Chase (Nicki) Bushman of Morton, Jourdan (Kyle) Arvin of Morton; as well as 18 great grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, John Parks, whom she married on April 18, 2015.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, David L. Bushman; one daughter, Vicki L. Deets; her parents, Edward and Helen Loechel; and sisters, Jackie Nye, Joyce Howard, and Wilma Stewart.
Cremation rites are accorded. No visitation or funeral per Nona’s request. Burial will be at Oak Knoll Memorial Park next to her first husband, David.
A memorial has been established for the Milledgeville Brethren Church, 521 N. Main Avenue, Milledgeville, IL, 61051.
