Dolores Bahr

Dolores “Dee” Irene Bahr, 97, Baxter, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2018 surrounded by her family. She was born on May 7, 1921 in Crosby, MN to Oscar and Myrtle (Anderson) Johnson.

Dee graduated from Crosby High School, Class of 1939. After graduating from St. Cloud Teachers College, she taught in a one room school house east of Brainerd for one year and then continued teaching in Aitkin for two years. In 1944, Dee married George Paul Bahr from Brainerd and they raised their family of five children on Perch Lake in Baxter. From 1956 to 1980, she taught fourth grade at Baxter Elementary School. She was an excellent teacher loved by her students and inspired numerous family members and friends to follow her into the teaching profession.

Over the years, Dee and George enjoyed traveling, reaching nearly all 50 US States, Canada and Sweden. Dee was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the Brainerd Moose Club, Degree of Honor Auxiliary and Order of the Eastern Star. Dee volunteered for years at the St. Joseph’s Hospital gift shop and knit over 2500 newborn baby hats. She loved baking cookies, breads, donuts and pies. As a teacher, she enjoyed her time off in the summer gardening in her beautiful flower beds, making strawberry jam, canning tomatoes, reading book after book and relaxing with swimming. At the age of 85, she swam with her grandchildren across Perch Lake. She loved to play cribbage, cards, and games with her husband, children and grandchildren and friends.

Dolores is survived by her five children: James (Pat) Bahr of Grand Rapids, Gretchen (Dennis) Kuseske of Kimball, Don (Doni) Bahr of Pine River, Ginger Augustinack of Baxter and Charlie (Bonnie) Bahr of Baxter, sixteen grandchildren: Rob (Missy) Bahr, Tracy (Dan) Ritter, Alissa (Matt) Keil, Jebediah (Minna) Kuseske, Adam (Katy) Kuseske, Zachary (Rachel) Kuseske, Amanda (David Konnight) Kuseske, Taylor (Annie) Kuseske, Angie (Landon Hager) Bahr, Andy Bahr, Annie (Peter) Hubbard, Megan (Dustin) Christenson, Tony Augustinack, Paul Augustinack, Tori (Paul Sanft) Bahr, and Kacie (Jared) Massey and fifteen great-grandchildren: Griffin and Barrie Bahr, Wyatt, Walker, and Warren Ritter, Benjamin, Abby, and Lincoln Keil, Tanner Kuseske, Hendrix and Peyton Kuseske, Gabrielle Kuseske, Aliyah Kuseske, Trevor Christenson and Eleanor Bahr-Sanft.

She is proceeded in death by her husband, George, parents, Oscar and Myrtle Johnson, sister, Pauline Fuller, grandchild, Tommy Bahr, daughter-in-law, Cathy (Belfiori) Bahr and son-in-law, Steve “Gus” Augustinack.

A celebration of her life will be held at 12:00 noon on Thursday, July 5 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter. The visitation will be held prior, from 9:30 to noon. Burial will be at Baxter Cemetery.