In memoriam: Dr. Jean Bauer, national leader in family science

It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of Dr. Jean Bauer.
Jean W. Bauer, age 67, of Falcon Heights, passed away on July 23, 2012. She is survived by Marvin, her husband of 43 years, her sister Nancy (Allan) Gossmann, Marshall, IL and brother, Richard (Marcia) Warner, Buffalo, NY, and seven nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Howard and Mary Ann Warner, and brother Ted, Greenville, IL. Jean grew up in Terre Haute, IN and earned degrees from Indiana State University, Purdue University and University of Illinois.
She has been a professor in the Department of Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, since 1983. She provided exceptional leadership to her department, college, the University, and her extension and research communities. She was a mentor to graduate students, giving them wings to fly, and to new faculty and colleagues at other universities. She served as director of graduate studies of her department, on the University Senate, and the Faculty Consultative Committee, including as chair. In 2011 she received the President’s Award for Outstanding Service to the University. As an extension specialist with the University of Minnesota Extension Service, Jean led outreach and education programs in family resource management, including development of Dollar Works, a nationally recognized curriculum. She led a multi-state research project on Rural Low Income Families and its results were published last year in the book, Rural Families and Work: Context and Problems.
A memorial service celebrating Jean’s life and legacy will be at Centennial United Methodist Church (1524 County Road C2, Roseville, MN 55113) on July 28 at 11 a.m. with visitation 1 hour before and luncheon/reception at noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the University of Minnesota Foundation – Jean W. Bauer Family Economics and Policy Fellowship (200 Oak Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455).