Mary C. Bauer

Madison -- Mary C. Bauer, 70, passed away peacefully at the HospiceCare Center in Fitchburg on April 18, 2009 , from cancer.   She was born on April 4, 19 39 , to Carl and Janet Lindmark.   She grew up in Milton Junction.   In 1953, she won the Wisconsin State Spelling Bee and competed in the National Spelling Bee in Washington , D.C. After graduating from Milton Union High School , she earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.   She then worked as a children's librarian in Milwaukee , until she married Warren R. Bauer in 1963.   While her husband served in the Air Force, Mary continued to work as a children's librarian in Lompoc , Calif. , and Shreveport , La. , and attended graduate school in library science.   They moved to Madison in 1968, where over the next 40 years Mary did a variety of volunteer work, such as planning cultural arts programs for Midvale Elementary School, leading school-group tours as a docent at the Wisconsin State Historical Society, serving as a receptionist at the U.W. Arboretum and participating in various activities at Bethany United Methodist Church, where she was a member.   Mary is survived by her husband of nearly 46 years and their daughter, Andrea of Chicago, IL.   She was preceded in death by their infant son, Thomas, and by her parents.   Funeral services will be held at BETHANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 3910 Mineral Point Rd. , on Thursday, April 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Brad Mather officiating.   Graveside services will be held at Milton Junction Cemetery in Milton , WI on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 11:00 a.m.   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to HospiceCare Inc. 5395 E. Cheryl Parkway , Madison , WI 53711 .   The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Hospice for all their care and attention given to our family and especially to Mary.