Esther Ella Bauer

Esther was born in Halliday, North Dakota to Gottfried and Katie Mann, the third youngest of eight children. She grew up helping on the family farm. She met a handsome young man while serving at a church wedding; named Edwin Bauer. The couple married on October 7, 1952.

Esther and Ed welcomed the first of their three children, ReNee, in 1954. They lived in Idaho from 1956-59 and welcomed their second child, Brian during this time. In 1959 they moved to Portland and set down roots. The family was complete with the birth of Jerome in 1964.

She loved Polka music, dancing, and watching it on Saturday nights with her sweetheart, and nobody could out dance her and Ed. She was a long time member of Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church and enjoyed the women’s Bunco group, occasionally convincing ReNee to sit in as a substitute when they were short a player. She and Ed enjoyed playing Pinochle with friends and were members of the VFW and the Eagles.

Esther worked outside the home, 20 plus years at Tektronix on circuit boards, as a trainer and a Supervisor. But family was everything to Esther. She loved spending time in the kitchen and was known for her German dishes. Baking became a family affair when she enlisted the children to crack an untold amount of walnuts. She canned everything and she and Ed even made their own sausage, among other things. She then spent time with her children and grandchildren passing down her cooking tips and recipes.

Esther loved hosting Thanksgiving and Christmas and later, when her beloved grandchildren came along, Easter egg hunts at her house. The family took many road trips back to North Dakota and enjoyed trips to the Oregon coast, especially Lincoln City. She and Ed also enjoyed trips to Spirit Mountain.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Ed; daughter, ReNee Bauer; sons, Brian (Vickie Charley) and Jerome (Deonna) Bauer; grandchildren, Jeremie Lucas, Jaime Dunn, Mindy Stewart, Justin Lucas, Jason Lucas, Christopher Bauer, Cory Bauer, Joel Lucas, and Tiffany Greeson; and 16 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church on Saturday, October 29, 2016 at 12pm. She will be laid to rest in Skyline Memorial Gardens.