Phyllis Caroline (Grosskreutz) Baumer

Phyllis Caroline Baumer, age 92, of Grand Haven, passed away on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at Grand Pines Assisted Living. She was born on February 6, 1932, in Fenwood, WI, to the late Henry and Ronetta (Pries) Grosskreutz.

Phyllis graduated from Edgar High School, and after graduating from St. Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing, Wausau in 1952, she took a train to California with a classmate to work as a Registered Nurse. There, she met Leslie “Les” Baumer, and they were married on December 18, 1954, in Oakland, CA. He was from a small Wisconsin town also but was stationed there in the Navy. Les preceded her in death on February 21, 2019, after 64 years of marriage.

Phyllis had a strong faith and she and Leslie were long-time members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Wausau, WI. Phyllis was a caretaker at heart, always helping neighbors, family, church members, and strangers. She especially enjoyed her time being part of Stephen Ministries.

Phyllis had a passion for gardening, fishing, plants, birds, nature, sewing mission quilts, and crocheting. She enjoyed bowling in a league and serving as Cub Scout leader and a church youth leader, and kept busy by playing board games and working on puzzles. She and Les especially loved hosting friends and family at the cottage up north.

Phyllis will be lovingly remembered and missed by her three sons: Steve (Patty) Baumer, James Baumer, and Jack (Shelly) Baumer; her daughter, Judy (James) Conklin; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Bernice Grosskreutz and Dianne Grosskreutz; and brother-in-law, Richard “Dick” (Patricia) Baumer.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; daughter-in-law, Marguerite Baumer; grandchildren, Danielle Baumer and Matthew Baumer; her brothers: Henry “Hank” (and Angie Ralston) Grosskreutz Jr., Ronald Grosskreutz, and LeRoy Grosskreutz; sisters: Geraldine “Geri” (and Edward) Dorfschmidt, Myrtle “Mertz” (and Edwin “Red”) Nowak, and Rozelle “Rosie” Weisenberger; brothers-in-law, Ken (and Mary Ann) Wells, and Darrell “Beaner” (and Jan) Baumer.

The Memorial Service for Phyllis will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1st, 2025, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Wausau, Wisconsin. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at Restlawn Memorial Park (Wausau, WI), with reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial Contributions may be made to Trinity Health at Home Hospice Grand Haven, or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of Wausau, WI for their general fund.

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