Virginia Sue Bader

Sue was born on January 9, 1928 in Solider, KS, the daughter of Christian and Beulah (Johnston) Baertch who preceded her in death.

She grew up on the family’s farm in Soldier during the great depression, an experience that had a lasting impression on her life. She graduated from Soldier High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University in Manhattan in 1949. She married Robert Smith Bader in 1948 with whom she had four sons. They later divorced.

Sue is survived by her sons; Douglas (Gail) Bader, of Alton, IL, Jonathan (Ann) Bader, of DeForest, WI, Eric (Valerie) Bader, of Columbia, MO, and Joel (Rebecca) Bader, of Columbia, MO, a sister Mary Rumsey, of Madison, WI, nine grandchildren; Christina, Emma, Sarah, Mira, Shireen, Allison, Reece, Olivia, and Sophia, six great grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Sue was preceded in death by two sisters, Kathleen Ann Baertch and Carolee Clowers.

Prior to having children, she worked as a hospital nutritionist in Chicago. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, cooking, bird watching and was an avid reader. She had a deep commitment to ethical values, human equality, and responsible stewardship of the environment. She was involved with the League of Women Voters, the American Association of University Women, the Ethical Society of St Louis, and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia. She was a skilled seamstress, volunteering her talents at the Repertoire Theater in St. Louis.

Sue was a most loving, selfless and patient mother and grandmother who greatly enjoyed her family - always interested in their accomplishments, struggles or events, no matter how great or small. We’ll greatly miss her kindness, ready laugh, her loving words of encouragement, appreciation and support.

The family is especially thankful for the loving care given Sue by the staff at the Bluffs and at Candlelight Lodge Assisted Living in Columbia.

Visitation and Memorial Services will be held at a later date, at the Unitarian Universalist Church with Rev. Molly Housh Gordon officiating. Private burial will be at a later date in Solider, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the League of Women Voters of Columbia-Boone County or the Missouri Rural Crisis Center in c/o Memorial Funeral Home.