Wilmer Bader

Wilmer Bader, 94, of Palmer, died Friday, Jan. 30, 2015, at Wedgewood Care Center in Grand Island, surrounded by his loving family. Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. John's Lutheran Church in Palmer. The Rev. Thomas Clark will officiate. Burial will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Palmer. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Mr. Bader was born on Nov. 3, 1920, at Palmer, the son of John L. and Elizabeth (Lautenschlager) Bader. He was united in marriage to Dorothy D. Baker on Oct. 28, 1950, at Cushing. She preceded him in death on Dec. 15, 2008. He is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Keith and Lynn Bader of Bellevue and Larry and Carmel Bader of Alda; and four daughters and sons-in-law, Louise and Glen Schindler of Elgin, Pam and Craig Peterson and Rosanna and Terry Mostek, all of Grand Island and Joyce and Kevin Sadd of Hastings. He also leaves to cherish his memory 17 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson. Wilmer attended Merrick County District No. 45 rural school. He then farmed with his father and brothers until 1948, when he began farming on his own. After he and Dorothy were married they lived and farmed south of Palmer and raised their seven children. Wilmer continued to live on the farm after Dorothy's death until Feb. 2014, when he moved to Wedgewood Care Center. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Palmer and the local Farmers Union Co-Op. Wilmer loved buying and selling antiques and enjoyed attending area auctions, especially the Community Sale in Central City, every Thursday. He also enjoyed playing the accordion, raising watermelons and playing cards. He dearly loved his children and grandchildren and the times they spent together. In addition to his wife Dorothy, he was preceded in death by a son, Lyle Bader; his parents; two sisters, Tilly Bader and Lilly Bosselman; and six brothers, John Bader, Henry Bader, Albert Bader, Carl Bader, George Bader and his twin brother, Willard Bader. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.