Jean Warner Bauer

passed away July 23, 2012
Jean Bauer

Jean Warner 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 Distinguished 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 was held at Centennial United Methodist Church (1524 County Road C2, Roseville, MN 55113) on July 28. Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Minnesota Foundation – Jean W. Bauer Family Economics and Policy Fellowship (200 Oak St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455).

Share your thoughts

Jean worked with me to lead the land-grant university in responding knowledgeably to welfare reform when legislation passed in the late 1990s. She capably lead a 17-state team of research faculty and students in a longitudinal study of rural, low-income families in the wake of welfare reform that began in 1998 and continues today. Along the way, she mentored many students and the rest of us on the team. Her vision of a book documenting many of the findings was realized with the release of "Rural Families and Work: Context and Problems" at the NCFR conference in 2011. A large body of knowledge, application of findings to Extension and instructional programs and improvements for rural, low-income families through policy and programs is part of her legacy. Jeans was a force for families.

Bonnie Braun

Jean was my roommate at NCFR for several years and my soulmate as we watched my daughter Sharon progress through the rigors of a PhD, under Jean's competent tutelage. She and I and many others will certainly miss her!
Lane Powell, PhD, Lubbock, TX