Irma E. (Biesterveld) Bauer

Irma E. (Biesterveld) Bauer, age 99, died Tuesday, February 10, 2026. She was born May 6, 1926 to William and Elizabeth Biesterveld and grew up on the family farm near Rock Falls, Wisconsin. She attended Cranberry Creek Grade School, then graduated from Durand High School in 1944. She married Donald (Don) Bauer on October 14, 1947 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Mondovi, Wisconsin.
They lived in Durand where they raised three children. After the children were in school, she worked as secretary for the Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. at their Durand District office from 1958 to 1987.
She was a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Girl Scout Leader. She volunteered for many years for St Mary’s Catholic Church. She was chosen as “The Woman of the Light” by St. Mary’s Parish in 2011. In the presentation of the award, it was noted “Irma is an angel put here on earth. She truly gives of herself . . .not asked to do it, but wanting to do it.” After retirement she volunteered at the Oakwood Care Center and the Old Courthouse Museum.
She was a two-time breast cancer survivor and was active in the Reach to Recovery Program supporting and mentoring women recovering from mastectomies as they faced the reality of post-surgery living.
She and Don enjoyed traveling around the United States, especially Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Holy Land and Italy. Her Catholic faith and her family were most important to her. She also enjoyed gardening, genealogy and sewing. She was a very creative person making her own wedding dress and wedding dresses for family and friends, Christmas Stockings for all new members of the family, children clothing and numerous other items. She provided hospitality to neighbors and friends making people feel nurtured and loved. That included her two widowed brothers who came for Wednesday meals until Irma and Don moved to assisted living just prior to their 99th birthdays. Family and friends especially loved her home-made bread, poppyseed rolls, kale hot dishes, potato dumplings and ground bologna sandwiches.
She is survived by her children Rodney (Roberta), Birchwood WI, Randy (Nancy) Bauer, Ramsey MN, and Ruth Porter, Plymouth MN; nine grandchildren: Darrin (Judi) Bauer, Teresa (Dennis) Luginbill, Heidi (Jason) Bauer-Clapp, Chad (Laura) Bauer, Cindy Windau, Holly (Zachry Fenhaus) Bauer, Troy (Melissa) Bauer, Sean (Kelly) Porter and Rachel (Tyler) Narverson; 16 great grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild and one step-great-great grandchild, brothers Bill and Roger Biesterveld and sister Audrey Biesterveld, brother-in-law Norman (Patricia) Bauer and sister-in-law Toni Bauer, nieces, nephews, godchildren and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her husband Don, her parents, stillborn son Patrick, brothers Bob and his wife Pat, Doug and his wife Kathy, Gary Biesterveld, sisters Wilma Wittig and her husband Tony, Pat Ulwelling and her husband Joe, and Judy Fagerland and her husband Tom, sisters-in-law Lois Bauer and her husband Lud, Rheta Brunner and her husband Tony and brother-in-law Gerald M. Bauer.
Funeral Mass will be at 11:30 AM, Monday, February 16, 2026 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Durand with Rev. Emmanuel Asamoah-Bekoe officiating assisted by Irma’s son Deacon Randy Bauer. Burial will be in the church cemetery immediately following the Mass.
Visitation will be from 4:00 PM to 7:00PM Sunday, February 15, 2026 at Rhiel Funeral Home with a prayer service at 6:30 PM and Monday at St. Mary’s 10:30 AM until 11:15AM with a Eulogy and special music just before Mass.
The family prefers memorials in Irma’s name to St Croix Hospice for the Durand service area or the Pepin County Historical Society.
Rhiel Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Durand, is serving the family.
Condolences may be made online at www.rhielfuneralhome.com.