Mary Bader

Mary Ellen Bader, age 82, was called home to her heavenly father on August 11, 2019. Born on October 10, 1936 in Athol, Kansas, she was the daughter of the late Aaron and Sarah Vaughn.

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26) . Mary is greeted in heaven by her grandson, Taylor Lutgen and her great grandson, Caldyn Wasinger. She is mourned here by her devoted husband of 65 years, Kenneth of Cawker City; three daughters, Sheryl (Robert) Budke, Sheila Lutgen, and Karen (Andy) Niemczyk, all of Beloit; five sons, Doug (Mary) Bader, Steve (Callie) Bader, and Darrell (Lisa) Bader, all of Cawker City, Darrin (Vanessa) Bader of Louisburg, Kansas, and Chris (Allison) Bader of Bismarck, North Dakota; 22 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; sisters, Lorena Parks of Dighton, Kansas and Leota (Harold) Marr of Thornton, Colorado; brother, Jason Vaughn of Brandywine, West Virginia; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Mary graduated from school in Athol. She was united in marriage to Kenneth Bader on July 12, 1954, and to this union were born eight children.

She often sewed clothes for her family and also took on mending for extra money. Mary cared for the elderly in the Cawker City Nursing Home for many years. She then worked as a cook at the Waconda school district, and was later promoted to the head cook position. She retired from her job at the school after 25 years of service.

Mary loved gardening, sewing, reading, painting, and puzzles. She was an avid country music fan and on occasion, sang with some local bands. She and Kenny could often be found dancing to polkas and waltzes on Saturday evenings.

Her strong faith in the Lord saw her through many trying times. Through the loss of many family members and life-long friends, but also, and more importantly, through the joys of being a wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, and great grandmother. Her memories will live on for all who knew her and were even in some small way a part of her life for many years to come. She will never be forgotten.

Funeral services will be at 10 AM Friday, August 16 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Cawker City. A rosary service will be at 5:30 PM & visitation will be from 1 PM until the rosary service begins on Thursday, August 15 at the Roberts Family Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to Solomon Valley Hospice or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.