Rosemarie T. Bauer

On Sunday July 15, 2012, Rosemarie T. (Seguin) Bauer, 83 years old, passed away in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Rose was born in Detroit to Edward and Isabelle (Kunneth) Seguin. She graduated from the University of Michigan with Bachelors of Science and Master of Science degrees, and received her PhD from the University of Delaware in marine zoology. She taught at Aquinas College (Grand Rapids, MI) and Smith College (Northampton, MA), and was researcher at the University of Michigan. In 1961, she married Dr. Jere M. Bauer in Ann Arbor. Together they raised two sons (Jere Jr. and Charles) in Ann Arbor.

Questioning and learning were a constant throughout Rose's life. While her academic interests were always in the biological sciences, she was constantly reading a novel, poetry or scientific publication, listening to music, and discussing current events, history and the arts with family and friends. When someone expressed interest in a subject Rose was always keen to learn about it. For her learning came in many forms and was a natural outgrowth of her boundless curiosity.

One of Rose's favorite ways to learn was to travel the United States and Canada by car. Trips were generally month long, unstructured, summertime events with one general destination in mind. She was the navigator and chief dreamer. If there was a sight that could be seen along the way it was seen (or attempted to be seen). If there were relatives and friends somewhere in between Ann Arbor and the ultimate destination, they were visited. The adventure of the trip was paramount. Her attitude was that the less structured a trip was, the less chance that something would go wrong, and the more chance there was for taking advantage of a sudden opportunity. The end of one trip was the beginning of the next.

Rose not only talked to her family and friends throughout the country, but she listened to them too. Having relatives and friends in multiple time zones was a blessing to her. Their concerns were genuinely her concerns. If someone was having a problem, it became a problem she cared about and tried to help resolve by studying and listening. An unresolved problem was unacceptable. Rose was always available to talk to anytime day or night.

The questioning and learning skills, sense of unstructured adventure, and problem solving skills that were exhibited towards relatives and friends, were exponentially focused on her children, children in-law and grandchildren. If any of us paid enough attention we could have learned a lot more than we did. As it is, though, she taught us to learn always and in any situation, to embrace the possibility of a sudden adventure, and care about our relatives and friends.

Rose will always be remembered as a loving, generous and kind mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, great-aunt, godmother and friend. Everyone's life she touched was made better by her enduring sense of curiosity and love of learning, combined with her genuine caring for each individual. She is survived by her sons Jere (Ellen) and Charles (Kellie); grandchildren Jere III, Katherine, and Isabel; brother Gregory (Mary) Seguin; sister-in-law Dolores Seguin; and numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents Edward and Isabelle, husband Jere, son Douglas Perry Bauer, sister Lorraine (Seguin) Zinser, brother Richard Seguin, and brother-in-law Robert Zinser. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 20, 2012 from 2-4 and 6-8 at the Muehlig Funeral Chapel, Ann Arbor . A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday at 1:00 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Ann Arbor Burial to follow at St. Thomas Catholic Cemetery . www.muehligannarbor.com

Good night, happy dreams and God bless you, Mom. We love you.