Bonnie Brunk Hillerbrand International Student Scholarship Fund

Bonnie Lucile Brunk was born in 1934 in Michigan where her father worked for Oldsmobile, the auto manufacturer.  When World War II broke out a few years later, her father left Oldsmobile because they had converted to building tanks. As a Mennonite and because of his stance as a conscientious objector, he did not feel as though he could be part of the war effort. The family moved to a farm where Bonnie learned to work hard taking care of the chickens and milking the cow.

In 1951 Bonnie enrolled at Goshen College and it was there that she met a German fellow who had also just enrolled by the name of Hans Hillerbrand.  In 1954, before they had finished their degrees, Bonnie married Hans.  They then lived in Germany while Hans finished his degrees, including a PhD at the University of Erlangen.  Hans was invited back to Goshen College to teach and it was 1957 until Bonnie was able to finish her degree at Goshen in sociology.  From Goshen, Bonnie followed Hans to Duke University, City University of New York, Southern Methodist University and then back to Duke where they remained the rest of their lives.  They raised three children and were blessed by 12 grandchildren.

While Bonnie certainly embraced Hans’ Lutheran faith, she never forgot and indeed was in many ways formed by her Mennonite roots.  The Mennonite faith certainly determined her values.  She was deeply committed to a life of simplicity and frugality.  In true Anabaptist tradition, she took the admonishments of Jesus in the Sermon of the Mount very seriously and was convicted that the Christian faith mandated social responsibility and humility.

This conviction affected and infused her work with families of disabled children, the way she raised her own children and the how she related to those around her.  She was a true embodiment of Goshen Colleges core values of being global citizens, servant leaders, compassionate peacemakers and passionate learners, all the while focused on the life and teachings of Christ.