Roland Bauer

Roland "Rollie" Bauer, age 84, died Saturday, July 11, 2015, at the Grace Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, July 15, at 10:30 a.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Graceville with Father Stan Wieser celebrating the Mass. Burial will follow in the Graceville Consolidated Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the time of service at the church on Wednesday.

Music will be provided by Deb Farwell, organist; Chris Weick, Deb Stueve, Jean Costello, and Sandi Bauer, vocalists.

Casket bearers will be Rollie's grandchildren: Cory Bauer, Jennette Stotesbery, Dan Bauer, Sam Bauer, Tiffany Fridgen, Nate Bauer, and Jackson Bauer. Honorary bearers include Rollie's remaining grandchildren: Cody Bauer, Lori Rixe, Brittany Swigerd, Shelby Bauer, Mike Bauer, Alex Bauer, Molly Fridgen, Jordan Bauer, Ella Bauer, and Jacob Bauer.

Roland Francis Bauer was born on June 24, 1931, in Croke Township, Traverse County, Minnesota to Anton and Laura (Schmitz) Bauer. He graduated from St. Mary's Academy in Graceville with the class of 1949. On October 11, 1952, Rollie was united in marriage with Phyllis Wiegman at St. Patrick's Church. To this union, nine children were born.

After their marriage, Rollie began farming the "Lazy Acres Ranch" and continued to do so until 1997. Farming was Rollie's true passion and he spent much of his life farming with his sons, bailing "tousands and tousands" of bales of hay and straw.

Although primarily a farmer, Rollie also worked at the DUMP and spent eight years working at Toqua Park. When not working, he spent his time volunteering and partaking in various clubs. Rollie was a member Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Graceville, the Gun Club, the Toqua Sportmans Club, the NFO, and the Knights of Columbus. He served on the Graceville Hospital Board and was an officer of the Township Board. Rollie was also a member of the Northern Raiders Saddle Club, where he had the opportunity to ride horses.

A true outdoorsman, Rollie enjoyed hunting and woodworking. He was a skilled painter and took pleasure in writing stories and poems about everyone he met. Rollie loved to play guitar and sing. He was delighted to share his talents with the public by singing in choir, and with his family, especially his grandchildren when he would entertain their school class on Grandparent's Day. Family was of the utmost importance to Rollie and he loved spending time and taking vacations with his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

May the "Ole Buzzard" rest in peace!

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Phyllis Bauer of Graceville; sons: Randy (Denise) Bauer of Warroad, MN; Scott (Mary) Bauer of Graceville; David (Belinda) Bauer of Dumont, MN; Jeffrey (Terri) Bauer of Graceville; Bob (Sandi) Bauer of Clinton; Barry (Heidi) Bauer of Omaha, NE; daughter, Susan (Craig) Fridgen of Dumont; daughter-in-law, Julie Bauer of Pipestone, MN; 17 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; brothers: James Bauer of Richland, MI; Paul (Linda) Bauer of Las Vegas, NV; sisters: Carol Bauer Rose of Graceville; Mary (Gordy) Chalmers of Willmar, MN; Laurie Wiegman of Graceville; sisters-in-law, Rita Bauer of Graceville; Pat Keltgen of Olivia, MN; brother-in-law, Bob Wiegman of Graceville; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Lynn; son, John; brother, Tom Bauer; and sister-in-law, Mary Bauer.