Geneva Bauer

Geneva Bauer, 82, of Sioux Center, IA died Thursday, December 11, 2008 at the Sioux Center Community Hospital.

A memorial service will be held Monday at Central Reformed Church at 11AM with Reverend R. Van Rathbun officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

A prayer service will be held Monday at 10AM at Central Reformed Church.

Visitation will be held Sunday from 2-8PM with the family present from 2-4PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.



Geneva F. Bauer was born October 7, 1926 to Arthur and Helen Kuhnes in Chamberlain, South Dakota. She attended country school near Mitchell, South Dakota. Geneva went on to graduate from Mitchell High School and attended Notre Dame College in Mitchell.

In 1949, Geneva married Paul D. Bauer. Their first years of marriage were spent in Brookings, South Dakota while Paul attended SDSU. During this time, Geneva worked for the university animal husbandry department. They lived in Volga, South Dakota for a year before settling in Sioux Center, Iowa in 1954.

In 1972, Geneva and Paul moved to Sioux City, Iowa and later Minneapolis, Minnesota. After retiring they lived in Mesa, Arizona until returning to Sioux Center in 2004. Before becoming a resident of Pleasant Acres Care Center, in Hull, Iowa, Geneva enjoyed the comradery of her Sioux Center Crown Pointe friends and neighbors.

Geneva was a member of various Presbyterian Churches throughout her life; she served as a deacon at the Morningside Presbyterian Church while living in Sioux City. At Sioux Center she and Paul belonged to Central Reformed Church, where she was active in womens ministries. Geneva had many interests and dedicated herself to her family.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband of 59 years, Paul Bauer of Hull; daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Allen Gessell of Princeton, MN; two sons and daughters-in-law: Craig and Dawn Bauer of Sioux Center and Gary and Pam Bauer of Des Moines, IA along with five grandchildren: Travis Bauer and his wife, Tricia of Sioux Center, Cody Bauer and his wife, Kathy of Sioux Center, Allen Gessell, Jr. A.J. and his fianc, Danielle of Big Lake, MN, Nathan Gessell of Princeton, MN, Stephanie Bauer of Sioux City and two great grandchildren: Kade Bauer and Jacob Bauer. Geneva is also survived by her brother, Kenneth Kuhnes of Cherokee, IA, as well as, nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents; sister, Mary Jane Kuhnes; sister and brother-in-law, Pearl Lorraine and Jim Waybright and sister-in-law, Carol Kuhnes.