Rachel Lea Bauder, age 79, of rural Paola, Kansas, died Friday, July 28, 2006 at St. Lukes Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.

Rachel was born March 12, 1927 in Ellis County, Kansas. She was the youngest of three children born to Ira and Rachel Muth Heiner. Mrs. Heiner died in childbirth and Rachel was then adopted by her maternal aunt and uncle, Peter and Marie Muth Rothe of Otis, Kansas. She was the youngest of six children in the Rothe family.

The family moved to Osawatomie during her preschool years. She grew up in Osawatomie, attended local schools, and graduated from Osawatomie High School with the Class of 1945. After high school, she went to work as a supply clerk at the Olathe Naval Air Station. While working there she met her future husband, Thomas M. Bauder, USMC. The couple were married September 19, 1948 at the First United Methodist Church of Osawatomie. Mrs. Bauder enjoyed the frequent moves that military life brought and the new sites and new friends made with each move. The family moved to Osawatomie in 1966 upon Mr. Bauder's retirement from the Marine Corps. She was a homemaker after the arrival of their son until their daughter started school. She then worked part time as secretary of the Osawatomie United Methodist Church from 1969 to 1985. She also worked part time as the secretary for the Osawatomie Presbyterian Church from 1975 until her retirement in 1991.

Mrs. Bauder was a member of the Osawatomie Presbyterian Church. Past memberships include the Osawatomie Chapter of the Eastern Star, Osawatomie United Methodist Church, and the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. She enjoyed traveling and dancing. She also loved attending any activity that involved her grandchildren. She was a dedicated mother, grandmother, and aunt.

She was preceded in death by her husband on August 27, 1990. Others who preceded her in death include her parents, one brother, and three sisters. She is survived by her son Thomas W. Bauder of Kansas City, Missouri; her daughter Kimberly S. Fisher of Osawatomie; a granddaughter Tanya M. Rowden of Kansas City, Missouri and nephew John A. Farley of Osawatomie who she and her husband helped raise. She is survived by five additional grandchildren and one great grandson. She is survived also by her companion and dancing partner of 13 years, Daniel M. McIntyre of Osawatomie. Additional survivors include her brother Earl Rothe of Tucson, Arizona, her brother Kenneth Heiner and sister Mabel Prather both of DeBeque, Colorado, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, August 1, 2006 at the Eddy-Birchard Funeral Home in Osawatomie. She will lie in state after 1:30 p.m., Monday at the funeral home. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Osawatomie Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Richard M. Fisher, Jr., John A. Farley, Curtis Rowden, Richard McIntyre, Phil Mercado, and Tim Spencer. Memorials are to the First United Methodist Church in Osawatomie or the United Presbyterian Church in Osawatomie.