Elizabeth Ann Bauer

Liz (Elizabeth Ann) Hoffman Bauer was born to Ralph and Tressie (Heeter) Hoffman on August 11, 1930 in Macy, Indiana.  She joined siblings Miriam (Delmer) Bunnell, Paul (Joanna Begerow) Hoffman of McPherson Kansas, and John (Mary Sauter) Hoffman of Clarksville Indiana, all now deceased.

Liz attended Gilead High School ’48, where she was a cheerleader, on the newspaper staff, played saxophone in the band, and sang in the chorus.  She received degrees from Manchester University ’52 and Purdue University ’67.   At Manchester University she met and married Robert Bauer (now deceased 2006), a student from Celina Ohio.  Together they had two children, Richard Dean (Debrah Daugherty) Bauer of North Manchester and Beth Anne (Mark Goldsmith) Bauer of Weaverville California.

Both Bob and Liz enjoyed being educators.  Liz began as a teacher at White’s Institute in Wabash County, loved being a full-time mom during Rick and Beth’s early years, then taught 3 years at Union Township in LaPorte County.  She then spent 28 years with the Michigan City Area Schools as a school counselor.  During this time, Liz did community/church volunteering, serving with the LaPorte County Mental Health Association, Meals on Wheels, Northern Indiana District Board, Northern Indiana Personnel and Guidance Association Board, and in many areas of the LaPorte Church of the Brethren.  She always found a choir to sing with or lead, including church groups and the LaPorte County Purdue Club called the Choralaires.   She always looked forward to singing in the annual presentation of Handel’s Messiah in Michigan City.  She also joined two European tours with the Sounds of Hope.

After retirement, Liz and Bob volunteered full time. One position took them to Hiroshima, Japan, where they were administrators of the World Friendship Center, teaching English, maintaining a bed and breakfast while keeping peace programs alive for the community and Hibakusha (the survivors).  In New Windsor, Maryland, Liz was the Hostess Coordinator, scheduling conference groups as well as enticing other hostesses to come and help.   She also volunteered at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka, Alaska, a college that tailored its curriculum to be viable for Native Americans.  Bob and Liz celebrated their 50th anniversary in Sitka.

Liz moved to Timbercrest in North Manchester in November 2009.  She always felt that this was a great decision.  To her it felt a bit like coming home since the Hoffman Farm she grew up on was just 14 miles away, and her mother Tressie had also been a resident.  She continued volunteering at Timbercrest, helping in the One World Handicraft downtown, ushering at the Wagon Wheel Theatre in Warsaw, worked in the Neighborhood Market, and served on the Timbercrest Worship and Chapel Committee.  She founded and coordinated the Wednesday Evensong vesper services in 2012.  She also founded, organized and enticed a singing group of women called the Silvertones.

Liz was baptized in the Roann Church of the Brethren, was later a member of Pittsburg Indiana Church of the Brethren, followed by the LaPorte Church of the Brethren for 40 years, and finally at Manchester Church of the Brethren, where she sang with Ecclesia Choir, was on the Fellowship Commission for 2 terms, and served as a deacon.

Besides her two children, Liz leaves behind grandchildren Shawn Bellinger, North Manchester, Indiana, Joanna and Benjamin Bauer-Goldsmith, Weaverville, California; great grandchildren Mia Tisoto, Silver Lake, Regan (Austin Hiatt) Bellinger, Huntington, Marley Bellinger, Silver Lake, and Violet Sutton, Silver Lake; plus, one great- great grandchild, Harlow Hiatt of Huntington.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Church of the Brethren, 1306 Beckley Street in North Manchester, Indiana on Saturday May 6 at 4:00 pm.

The arrangements have been entrusted to Earl-Love Funeral Home, 811 E. Rochester St., Akron, Indiana. The staff considers it a privilege and an honor to care for the family of Elizabeth Bauer.

Online condolences may be sent to earllovefuneralhome.com

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