Abner M. Bauman

Abner was born in Waterloo County, Ontario, Canada, on December 13, 1936, to parents Urias and Annie Bauman. He developed into a leader at Wallenstein Bible Chapel and graduated from Elmira High School in Ontario. He then went on to study at Emmaus Bible School in Oak Park, IL. While at Emmaus, he met Rosalie Hausmann, and they married on December 31, 1960.

In the fall of 1961, Abner and Rosalie, along with a small group, boarded a freight ship to Egypt with a new missionary organization, Literature Crusades. They eventually made their way to Calcutta, India. This began their missionary travels in South and Southeast Asia. In 1966, they settled in Prospect Heights, IL, where Abner served in the organization’s new home office, preparing people for overseas work.

In 1966, Abner and Rosalie became part of Arlington Countryside Church (now Pathway Church) in Arlington Heights, IL. Abner served in leadership and occasional preaching on Sunday mornings. In 1971, he became the first staff member and pastored the church for 33 years, retiring at the end of 2004.

In 2005, Abner and Rosie began what he called their “retirement with purpose.” They took multiple retirement trips around the United States, often visiting friends along the way. In 2007, they began serving as volunteers at Wycliffe Associates in Orlando, FL. This began their annual winters spent at Wycliffe and summers at Upper Peninsula Bible Camp.

Abner grew up helping in his dad’s gravel-crushing business. Throughout his life, he continued using the handyman skills he developed to build and fix things wherever he went. Retirement gave him the opportunity to use those skills in serving others.

Abner was a strong example to his family through his kindness, compassion and wisdom. He passed on an adventurous spirit and strong work ethic, always ready to lend a hand.

Abner’s health began to deteriorate in 2021, and he entered a nursing home in 2022. Rosie faithfully spent most afternoons at the nursing home interacting with Abner, staff, and residents. Abner was well cared for and, though his health continued to decline, he was known for his smile and for living with grace and endurance.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Urias and Annie Bauman; stepmother, Katie Bauman; brothers, Elmer Bauman and Mahlon Bauman; and brothers-in-law, Mervin Snyder and Mike Bastiaansen.

Abner is survived by Rosalie, his devoted wife of 65 years; children Keith and Sandra Bauman, Karen Bauman, Eric and Lisa Bauman, and Evan and Leslie Bauman; grandchildren Shaina Bauman, Karl Bauman, Brett and Marion Bauman, Natalie Bauman, Aylin Bauman, and Nola Bauman; siblings Irene Snyder, Leona Bastiaansen, Nyle and Kathy Bauman; and sister-in-law, Edna Bauman (widow of Mahlon).

Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60004. The Remembrance Service is scheduled for Monday, March 2, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Pathway Church of Arlington Heights, 916 E. Hintz Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Remembrance Service live-streaming link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86939506750. Burial will take place at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, at Wheeling Township Cemetery in Arlington Heights, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wycliffe Associates (https://give.wycliffeassociates.org) or Upper Peninsula Bible Camp (https://www.upbiblecamp.org/give)