Fern M Fillingham Bauman

Lansing, Michigan

Fern Magdalena Fillingham Bauman, 96, of Lansing, Michigan passed away on Friday, March 15, 2013 at Sparrow Hospital.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a time and place to be determined. Dr. Bruce Cromwell, pastor of the Central Free Methodist Church in Lansing, Michigan will be officiating. Fern’s wishes were to be cremated. She will be buried next to her husband at a later date.

Fern was born in Lansing, Michigan at her grandparents’ home on Michigan Avenue on January 24, 1917. She graduated from Lansing’s Eastern High School in 1934 and was one of the last two remaining graduates of her class. She later attended Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana and was scheduled to receive her degree in 1951 in Food Services Management and Dietetics but was lacking one class. Fern loved clowns and also had 6 college credits in clown school from Lansing Community College.

Fern was married to Harold Michael Bauman, Sr. on March 30, 1961 at the YMCA Chapel in Lansing, Michigan. Fern and Harold were married 25 years before his death on June 19, 1986.

Fern worked at a variety of jobs in the hospitality industry. She worked at such places as the Jokake Inn in Phoenix, Arizona; the Poland Springs House in Poland Springs, Maine; the Worster House in Hallowell, Maine; a hospital in Yumatilla, Florida and various restaurants in the United States. Later she was hired by the State of Michigan in December of 1955 and retired from the Department of Social Services on April 1, 1977.

Fern’s primary hobby was knitting and she knitted hundreds of prayer bears for various church groups, hospitals and support groups. She was actively involved in various activities at Central Free Methodist Church in Lansing, MI. As a member of Circus Clown Alley and Circus World Alley in the Lansing area, she was known as Whimsy the Clown and entertained children as well as shut-ins and nursing home residents. She was also a member of Michigan State Employees Retirement Association (MI-SERA). Recently she worked with the recreation department at Burcham Hills Retirement Community in East Lansing and read stories to the residents.

Fern is survived by her daughter Marcile (Marcy) L. LaSalle and son-in-law, Charles (Chuck) R. LaSalle of Flushing, Michigan; sister Betty L. Davis of Lansing, Michigan; brothers Joseph R. Fillingham of Temple, Texas; and Sanford A. Marlott of Elk Rapids, Michigan. She has seventeen nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.

Fern is preceded in death by her husband Harold M. Bauman, Sr.; father Claude William Fillingham, Sr. and mother, Mildred Freida Bopp Fillingham; brother Claude W. Fillingham, Jr., and sisters Josephine E. Fillingham Meyers, Clara J. Fillingham McPherson.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to Central Free Methodist Church, 828 N. Washington, Lansing, MI 48905, for their educational programs or Ele’s Place, 1145 W. Oakland Ave., Lansing, MI 48915. The family of Fern M. Bauman wishes to thank the Rev. Bruce Cromwell, Ph. D. and Rev. Steve Tungate and the Central Cares Ministry at Central Free Methodist Church, the staff at Burcham Hills Retirement Community of East Lansing, the ER and CCU teams at Sparrow Hospital, and Ann Wuelser, Flushing, Michigan for their support.

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, East Lansing, Michigan. On line condolences may be made at www.greastlansing.com