Obituary for Elsie G. Bauer (Maser)
Elsie Grace (Maser) Bauer aka “Grandma Great,” 95 of Scottsbluff, died Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at Heritage Estates in Gering, NE. Her funeral service will be held at 10:30am, Monday, December 5, 2022, at Zion Evangelical Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Andrew Griess officiating. Services will be livestreamed on Bridgman Funeral Home Facebook Page. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Scottsbluff. Visitation will be held from 5-6pm on Sunday, December 4, 2022, at Bridgman Funeral Home in Scottsbluff. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to Regional West Hospice. Online condolences may be made by viewing Elsie’s memorial page at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Family Funeral Home in Scottsbluff is entrusted with arrangements.
Elsie was born November 13, 1927, in Bayard, NE to Elizabeth (Rieber) Maser and John Maser Sr. She was the 4th of 8 children living on a farm near Bayard. She received her education in Bayard schools until the 8th grade when she and her sisters decided it wasn’t fun to walk back and forth and they had more fun things to do thus ending her education. In 1947 she married Donald Bauer of Bayard. Together they made a home and a life for 72 years. Mostly living around Bayard and Scottsbluff with their two boys Billy and Davey. She loved watching her boys play sports, attending their games even when they were adults. She held various jobs in the community including Holland Bakery, Gering Clothing, Midwic, and Western Auto. However, her favorite job was being Don’s hired man. She loved to irrigate in the summer and drive beat truck in the fall. She passed her love of irrigation onto her first grandchild Melissa. After she and Don retired to Scottsbluff, she worked hand painting crafts for her son and daughter-in-law’s Business Creations From The Heart. She also enjoyed helping prepare and cook for Billy’s Baja Burritos.
Elsie loved being a grandmother to her four Grandchildren. She spoiled them as best she could. Attending every concert, play, parade, sporting event, and graduation. She was proud and let them know of her unconditional love. When she became a great-grandmother in 1999, she was given a new name “Grandma Great.” The name given by Deionus stuck. She even had a vanity license plate with that name. By the way she gave up driving at 90 years old.
She and Don enjoyed going on road trips together early on with his Trucking Company or later with the whole family, whether it be California, the Black Hills or Denver, she enjoyed every minute. Her last trip out of Nebraska was to see her Grandson Deionus Graduate College last spring.
Elsie is survived by her two sons William (Pam) Bauer of Scottsbluff and David (Susan) Bauer of Highlands Ranch, CO; grandchildren Melissa (Jason) Bauer of Scottsbluff, Brooks (Jennifer) Bauer of Greeley, CO; Scott (fiancé Brittany) Bauer of Centennial, CO and Kristin (Andrew) Johnson of Buford, GA; great-grandchildren Deionus Bauer, Devin Bauer, Chloe Forgett, Decon Forgett, Caden Bauer, Easton Bauer, Breck Bauer, Cady Johnson and Parker Johnson. She is also survived by sisters Lucile Cook, Leona Henkel, Judy (Richard) Michal, and Diana (Ivan) Siewert; sister-in-Law Betty Bauer; numerous nieces and nephews; special friends Jessica Klingsmith, Brianne Bauer, Oliva & Jaime Gonzales, Steve Trickler, and Ken & Norma Meyer; and her fur grandchildren Robayardto (Burrito) & Barney.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband Donald, parents; her mother-in-law and father in-law; her brothers Art Maser, Rudy Maser, John Jr., brother-in-law George Bauer, sisters-in-law Anna Maser, Gladys Maser, Verniece Maser, Grandson-in-law James Post.
The family would like to thank her caregivers at Heritage Estates. Elsie was very happy with the love and care she received in her last months.
Elsie was born November 13, 1927, in Bayard, NE to Elizabeth (Rieber) Maser and John Maser Sr. She was the 4th of 8 children living on a farm near Bayard. She received her education in Bayard schools until the 8th grade when she and her sisters decided it wasn’t fun to walk back and forth and they had more fun things to do thus ending her education. In 1947 she married Donald Bauer of Bayard. Together they made a home and a life for 72 years. Mostly living around Bayard and Scottsbluff with their two boys Billy and Davey. She loved watching her boys play sports, attending their games even when they were adults. She held various jobs in the community including Holland Bakery, Gering Clothing, Midwic, and Western Auto. However, her favorite job was being Don’s hired man. She loved to irrigate in the summer and drive beat truck in the fall. She passed her love of irrigation onto her first grandchild Melissa. After she and Don retired to Scottsbluff, she worked hand painting crafts for her son and daughter-in-law’s Business Creations From The Heart. She also enjoyed helping prepare and cook for Billy’s Baja Burritos.
Elsie loved being a grandmother to her four Grandchildren. She spoiled them as best she could. Attending every concert, play, parade, sporting event, and graduation. She was proud and let them know of her unconditional love. When she became a great-grandmother in 1999, she was given a new name “Grandma Great.” The name given by Deionus stuck. She even had a vanity license plate with that name. By the way she gave up driving at 90 years old.
She and Don enjoyed going on road trips together early on with his Trucking Company or later with the whole family, whether it be California, the Black Hills or Denver, she enjoyed every minute. Her last trip out of Nebraska was to see her Grandson Deionus Graduate College last spring.
Elsie is survived by her two sons William (Pam) Bauer of Scottsbluff and David (Susan) Bauer of Highlands Ranch, CO; grandchildren Melissa (Jason) Bauer of Scottsbluff, Brooks (Jennifer) Bauer of Greeley, CO; Scott (fiancé Brittany) Bauer of Centennial, CO and Kristin (Andrew) Johnson of Buford, GA; great-grandchildren Deionus Bauer, Devin Bauer, Chloe Forgett, Decon Forgett, Caden Bauer, Easton Bauer, Breck Bauer, Cady Johnson and Parker Johnson. She is also survived by sisters Lucile Cook, Leona Henkel, Judy (Richard) Michal, and Diana (Ivan) Siewert; sister-in-Law Betty Bauer; numerous nieces and nephews; special friends Jessica Klingsmith, Brianne Bauer, Oliva & Jaime Gonzales, Steve Trickler, and Ken & Norma Meyer; and her fur grandchildren Robayardto (Burrito) & Barney.
Elsie was preceded in death by her husband Donald, parents; her mother-in-law and father in-law; her brothers Art Maser, Rudy Maser, John Jr., brother-in-law George Bauer, sisters-in-law Anna Maser, Gladys Maser, Verniece Maser, Grandson-in-law James Post.
The family would like to thank her caregivers at Heritage Estates. Elsie was very happy with the love and care she received in her last months.