Bonnie Lyne Nolan's Obituary
With deep sadness for our loss, but greater joy for her gain, we announce that Bonnie Lyne Nolan, our dear mom, grandma, sister, cousin, aunt, and best friend in the world (to each of those she ever met) has gone to her most treasured home with her Lord and Savior. Her deep and active love for others presented her with the dilemma described by the apostle Paul: “we are confident . . . and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” 2 Cor. 5:8. Bonnie passed away on December 17, 2025, surrounded by her immediate family following her heroic 15+ month battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her son Matthew John Nolan and daughter-in-law Catherine Moore; her daughter Katherine Lyne and son-in-love Donald Stafford; precious granddaughters, Addison and Lillian Stafford; her mother Carol Hoffman, siblings Susan Carlson (Richard), Sandy Johnson (George), James Hoffman, Daniel Hoffman (Linda), Thomas Hoffman, and Tracey Hoffman; as well as close friend, Philip Sielski. She is also survived by several great nieces and nephews, great-great nieces and nephews, numerous cousins, and close friends, too numerous to name. She was predeceased by her father Roy Hoffman, her daughter Darcy Nolan (at birth), and dearest cousin, Terri Hoffman-Forward. She also valued her parenting relationship with former husband, Richard Nolan (Sandy) and her abiding connections with the “Nolan clan.”
Generosity was the outward expression of her deep love for others and motivated her involvement in so many activities – Bonnie never – quite literally never – found a moment of need that she didn’t rise to meet, no matter who needed her or what they needed, and no matter the personal cost to her. Her role with Make-A-Wish was as a “wish granter;” she established relationships with the families whose loved one’s “wish” had been granted by the foundation. She delivered the wish, in the many different forms those wishes take, such as transporting a family to the airport for a trip to Disney World, or taking a local family on a shopping spree, or a princess-for-a-day experience; a room or home makeover for a child with some special needs. She gave her all to making these experiences a dream come true for the child and his or her family and excelled in this role as she was incapable of not pouring her full heart into each and every one of these connections. Each of those experiences was a special memory for her and she maintained connections with many of the families long afterwards.
She was invited to participate with one of the dance teams for the Women’s Division of the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce with her friend Sandy Nolan and went in head first (the only way she knew) for the Dancing with the Local Stars event in 2022. What a way to celebrate her 70th birthday! She followed up in 2023 and 2024 with more dancing, and was saddened that her health prevented her from helping out this year’s competition, which has raised more than a million dollars over the last five years to support local food pantries. She was a joyful and exuberant participant; she often said she was happy to beg support for those in need.
She surely had the gift of gab and used that in so many ways, and professionally was an accomplished and multifaceted salesperson. The later stages of her career saw her working for many years with Welcome Wagon and starting her own business as an associate for Town Hall Guide, but over the years she sold radio advertising, cellular phones, and anything else that she could help bring into others’ lives. This type of work, of course, provided her with many opportunities to prove that “there are no strangers, just friends I have yet to meet.”
More than anyone we have had the privilege to know, Bonnie never decided how to use her time based upon what would be the most prestigious or earn the most money – she spent her time how she thought she should spend it as a human. From instructing and competing in aerobics, to volunteering with Muskegon’s corporate cup back in the day, to acting in stage productions when younger, to organizing flash mobs, to connecting with every person on the planet she could (her children once measured this as approximately 1/3 people she passed in the grocery store), to organizing work trips to spend more time with her granddaughters, to volunteering at Summer Celebration, to – well, this would never end if we named them all. Showing up with her time and emotions for others was the central value that drove Bonnie’s time here on Earth.
She was so grateful for her church family at First Lutheran, where she was a member for more than 30 years, and served in many capacities, including as its representative for Family Promise of the Lakeshore, which serves the underhoused people in our community.
She was always proud of her Muskegon roots, touting the rich opportunities of our lakeshore community and was an enthusiastic promoter of its recovery. She attended a 55th Year reunion of her Reeths Puffer class of 1970 late this summer and was thrilled to reconnect with many of her classmates.
Family visitation will be at The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey Street, Norton Shores, MI 49444, on Friday, December 26 from 1:00 to 3:00 and 6:00 to 9:00. A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2025 at First Lutheran Church, 1206 Whitehall Road, Muskegon MI 49445 at 11:00 o’clock a.m., a luncheon will follow the service and provide more opportunity to visit her family. The funeral service will be live streamed on the church’s FB and YouTube channels. FB: First Lutheran Church – Muskegon, MI; YouTube: @FirstLutheranChurchMuskegonMI.
In lieu of flowers, she would love for you to financially support Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan; Women’s Division of the Muskegon Chamber of Commerce Dancing with the Local Stars 2026, or her son’s Boston Marathon fundraiser for Blood Cancer United in her honor.
Arrangements handled by The Lee Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 6291 Harvey St, Norton Shores, MI 49444. Sign the online guestbook at https://www.sytsemafh.com
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