Rose Marie (Schrag) Bauer

Rose Marie, 88, died peacefully on Dec. 25, in her son’s home with him by her side. She was born Dec. 17, 1928 to the late Edward and Helen Dyck Schrag in Odessa.

She spent her childhood days at the homestead with her sisters and brother and attended schools in Schrag, Odessa and Ritzville, graduating from Ritzville high school in 1947. Rose kept detailed descriptions of childhood friends, games, cousins, school events and even how much she disliked chickens! (One time the wood shed door got closed on her and she was attacked by a cluck)

She met her late husband Davis Bauer in 1947 and they married on Feb. 22, 1948 in Ritzville at Menno Mennonite Church. They started their life together in Ritzville later moving to Connell.

They were married over 60 years and had five children over the course of their first 15 years together. She was a devoted housewife and mother.

Countless hours spent sewing clothes (an enjoyment to give her girls), keeping house, cooking and keeping tidy a seven bedroom homestead in the early days. Her spare time was spent enjoying crafts, church related activities and family.

Rose spent many hours involved with Menno. She was baptized at Menno in 1946. She and her husband enjoyed making things for the Menno Annual Auction, spending time at Camp Camrec in Plain, supporting missionary work and other church related activities.

She entered a new phase of life in 1972 when she became a librarian for the Connell Public Library. She took great pride in her position, earning a paycheck and enjoying helping others. She retired from the library in 1990. She was recognized in 2015 as honorary guest at their centennial celebration.

Rose and Davis enjoyed their “golden years” cruising in their motor home across the states to spend time with family. She put a lot of time into decorating the inside of the motor home with a sunflower theme from end to end. They visited Wyoming, Arizona, Tennessee, Nebraska and others, along with a previous trip to Disneyland and South America, where her sister Leona was a missionary.

She had a very crafty side. Enjoying everything from painting and refinishing furniture to paper dolls and creative gardening. Always keeping busy.

After the loss of her husband, Rose moved to Wenatchee and enjoyed life at Columbia Heights and then Colonial Vista in Independent Living.

She was able to meet several people with different types of backgrounds and made friends easily, yet kept in a small circle. She enjoyed bowling and working in the general store where several of her antiques were displayed for an old “general store look”.

She was dedicated to passing all information down to her children. She was precise in marking everything with a note and a date. Countless hours were spent on photo albums and keepsake books done to perfection.

Even near the end fussing about making sure that “this and that” were done and prepped ahead of time. What else is a Mom but a good fusser?

Always proud in one way or another of each child’s accomplishments even if not verbally mentioned frequently, due to strict German raising! Her love was shown in the care she took over the years preserving their family histories for generations to come.

She was preceded in death by her husband Davis and loving daughter Juanita, along with her siblings Evelyn, Leona and Percy. She is survived by her children Ed (Cheryl) Bauer of Tennessee, Janet (Richard) McVay of Wyoming, Fred (Sarah) Bauer, Wenatchee and Larry (Delma) Bauer, Pasco. Grandchildren, Christine, Marie, Ann, Johann, Jennifer, Ted, Jim, Jake, Austin, Felicia and Tanner and eleven great grandchildren with one on the way!

A service will be held at a later date at Menno Mennonite Church in Ritzville.