Ann Gruzensky Bauer ’40
09/17/1914 – 02/09/2025
Ann Gruzensky Bauer was born Sept. 17, 1914. She passed away Feb. 9, 2025. Ann as born in 1914 in a sod house near Grassy Butte, N.D. Her parents immigrated from Russia around 1903, seeking freedom and an escape from their fear of an imminent Revolution. In the early 1920’s two men on horseback rode into their farm yard to share the news of a newly discovered Bible truth about the Sabbath. The entire Gruzensky family became Seventh-day Adventists and charter members of the Grassy Butte SDA Church. Ann was the oldest of five children who grew up on a farm 30 miles from the nearest public high school. Her parents moved the family to Harvey, N.D., when it was time for Ann to begin at Cheyenne River Academy. Her father took Bible and English classes, having never attended school past 8th grade, nor formally learning English. After graduation, Ann traveled 600 miles to Union College to become a nurse. Ann met Albert Bauer ’40 when they worked together in the college laundry. One of the highlights of their college experience was the close friendships formed with co-workers and the Dunns, their work supervisors. They lamented how they would all stay in touch after scattering across the country once they graduated. They created “the Laundry Letter,” now legendary for keeping the chain letter circulating for more than 75 years! It is believed Ann was the last surviving member of the Laundry Letter club. On Sept. 2, 1940, the day after graduation Ann married Albert and they lived and worked in North Dakota, British Columbia, Wisconsin, and Michigan during their careers and raising a family of four children. Ann experienced and survived the Depression, two World Wars, learning to drive when her oldest child turned 16 (they took drivers education and their licensing exams together!), and all the marvels of modern technology. She was one of the first Tupperware dealers in the 1950s, deciding there was more flexibility in direct sales than shift work as a nurse. Over the next 42 years, she was “the Tupperware lady,” driving a station wagon and training dealers, as well as being one of the top 25 sales leaders in the U.S. for many years. She realized her goal of providing an SDA education for all four of her children, including a college education with no student loan debt! Ann’s early life was one of hard work, so as an adult almost any reason was a good excuse for a party! Her family, friends, and neighbors were recipients of birthday parties, Christmas baking, and wrapped presents. Laughter filled her home. She remembered birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestone events with cards and baked goods or her raspberry jam. The Bauer family moved to Berrien Springs in 1966 and Ann became an active community member. Some favorite traditions were the 4th of July Pancake Breakfast and Parade, Camera Club, Garden Club, concerts, and traveling with tour groups. She and husband Al shared a lifelong goal of visiting National Parks, which grew into camping trips for their family while visiting relatives and or traveling for a work-related convention. In retirement, Ann and Al spent almost 20 years traveling in the U.S. and internationally, with travel to local and regional Michigan destinations and to every continent except Antarctica! They also enjoyed getaways in their travel trailer, then a small RV for “snow birding” and meeting friends at various destinations around the U.S. Their home was always a hub of activity. Over several decades they hosted high school girls playing in the Wisconsin state basketball tournaments, missionaries on furlough needing a temporary “home,” and then Andrews University international students feeling displaced and far away from family. Most of them have stayed connected through Christmas cards and phone calls from faraway places like Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, Canada, and Great Britain. Some of Ann’s favorite activities were sewing and crafts, gardening, and travel. She made a handmade quilt for each of her six grandchildren when they graduated from high school! She loved entertaining in her home and going for impromptu picnics at a Lake Michigan beach to watch those gorgeous sunsets, especially on Sabbath evenings. Ann was a deeply spiritual person whose faith inspired a healthy lifestyle and a positive outlook on life. She was genuinely interested in all the world had to offer and was a “lifelong learner!” She and her youngest brother started the “120 Club” many years ago. When asked what that was, she said, “well, based on science, if you take good care of yourself, there’s no reason you can’t live to be 120 years old!” It appears she almost attained her goal, only moving to an assisted living facility at the age of 105 after a serious fall. Ann was preceaded in death by her husband, Albert. She is survived by four children: Luanne Bauer (Liza), Bruce (Linda), Ken (Diana), Raelene Brower; grandchildren: Jeff Bauer, Heidi (Eric) Starling, Jen (Ross) Moes, Charisa (Eric) Clarkson, Ben (Kathy) Brower, Kirt (Kelli) Brower; great-grandchildren (who delighted in calling her “GG”), Connor, Kennedy, Kaylin, Avery, Bailey, Madelynn, Luke, Brett, Judah, Kai, Khloe, and Kenzie. Ann firmly believed in the gift of salvation and eternal life in Heaven. She talked often of how she couldn’t wait to be united with Jesus and reunited with her family and friends. How that hope has made it easier to say a temporary goodbye to her!
Beverly Blair Wilson (’48)
10/22/1929 – 09/22/2025
Beverly Ann Blair Wilson was born Oct. 22, 1929, in Mason City, Iowa, and died Sept. 22, 2025, in Chattanooga, Tenn. When Beverly was five years old, the family moved to Madison, Tenn., where she lived until she married Bill Wilson ’50, in August 1949. The newlyweds moved to Lincoln, Neb., for a year while Bill finished college, then they lived in Chunky, Miss., for two years while working at Pine Forest Academy. Following that, they moved back to Madison where all three of their children were born. In 1958 the family moved to Fletcher, N.C., where Beverly raised the children and worked part-time in evenings at a hospital telephone switchboard while Bill was president of Mountain Sanitarium and Hospital. Their next move took them to Hinsdale, Ill., where they lived from 1963-76. At Hinsdale Hospital Beverly worked at the switchboard and in the patient admitting office while Bill served in hospital administration. She also was active in the Home and School program. The couple also lived in the Washington, D.C., area for three years. In 1980, the Wilson family moved to Orlando, Fla., where Beverly became “the face of Florida Hospital” through her work at the main-entrance information desk. Many people were impacted by her warm, friendly personality. The couple stayed in Florida until 2006 when they retired and moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., to be near children and grandchildren. From 2006 until present, Beverly volunteered at Samaritan Center, It is Written, and Southern Adventist University. She and Bill were generous supporters of education, and her open heart “adopted” many young people over the years. Beverly was an excellent cook, teaching this skill to her children and sharing it with thousands of people who enjoyed a meal in her home.
Ann Gruzensky Bauer ’40
09/17/1914 – 02/09/2025
Ann Gruzensky Bauer was born Sept. 17, 1914. She passed away Feb. 9, 2025. Ann as born in 1914 in a sod house near Grassy Butte, N.D. Her parents immigrated from Russia around 1903, seeking freedom and an escape from their fear of an imminent Revolution. In the early 1920’s two men on horseback rode into their farm yard to share the news of a newly discovered Bible truth about the Sabbath. The entire Gruzensky family became Seventh-day Adventists and charter members of the Grassy Butte SDA Church. Ann was the oldest of five children who grew up on a farm 30 miles from the nearest public high school. Her parents moved the family to Harvey, N.D., when it was time for Ann to begin at Cheyenne River Academy. Her father took Bible and English classes, having never attended school past 8th grade, nor formally learning English. After graduation, Ann traveled 600 miles to Union College to become a nurse. Ann met Albert Bauer ’40 when they worked together in the college laundry. One of the highlights of their college experience was the close friendships formed with co-workers and the Dunns, their work supervisors. They lamented how they would all stay in touch after scattering across the country once they graduated. They created “the Laundry Letter,” now legendary for keeping the chain letter circulating for more than 75 years! It is believed Ann was the last surviving member of the Laundry Letter club. On Sept. 2, 1940, the day after graduation Ann married Albert and they lived and worked in North Dakota, British Columbia, Wisconsin, and Michigan during their careers and raising a family of four children. Ann experienced and survived the Depression, two World Wars, learning to drive when her oldest child turned 16 (they took drivers education and their licensing exams together!), and all the marvels of modern technology. She was one of the first Tupperware dealers in the 1950s, deciding there was more flexibility in direct sales than shift work as a nurse. Over the next 42 years, she was “the Tupperware lady,” driving a station wagon and training dealers, as well as being one of the top 25 sales leaders in the U.S. for many years. She realized her goal of providing an SDA education for all four of her children, including a college education with no student loan debt! Ann’s early life was one of hard work, so as an adult almost any reason was a good excuse for a party! Her family, friends, and neighbors were recipients of birthday parties, Christmas baking, and wrapped presents. Laughter filled her home. She remembered birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestone events with cards and baked goods or her raspberry jam. The Bauer family moved to Berrien Springs in 1966 and Ann became an active community member. Some favorite traditions were the 4th of July Pancake Breakfast and Parade, Camera Club, Garden Club, concerts, and traveling with tour groups. She and husband Al shared a lifelong goal of visiting National Parks, which grew into camping trips for their family while visiting relatives and or traveling for a work-related convention. In retirement, Ann and Al spent almost 20 years traveling in the U.S. and internationally, with travel to local and regional Michigan destinations and to every continent except Antarctica! They also enjoyed getaways in their travel trailer, then a small RV for “snow birding” and meeting friends at various destinations around the U.S. Their home was always a hub of activity. Over several decades they hosted high school girls playing in the Wisconsin state basketball tournaments, missionaries on furlough needing a temporary “home,” and then Andrews University international students feeling displaced and far away from family. Most of them have stayed connected through Christmas cards and phone calls from faraway places like Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Iceland, Canada, and Great Britain. Some of Ann’s favorite activities were sewing and crafts, gardening, and travel. She made a handmade quilt for each of her six grandchildren when they graduated from high school! She loved entertaining in her home and going for impromptu picnics at a Lake Michigan beach to watch those gorgeous sunsets, especially on Sabbath evenings. Ann was a deeply spiritual person whose faith inspired a healthy lifestyle and a positive outlook on life. She was genuinely interested in all the world had to offer and was a “lifelong learner!” She and her youngest brother started the “120 Club” many years ago. When asked what that was, she said, “well, based on science, if you take good care of yourself, there’s no reason you can’t live to be 120 years old!” It appears she almost attained her goal, only moving to an assisted living facility at the age of 105 after a serious fall. Ann was preceaded in death by her husband, Albert. She is survived by four children: Luanne Bauer (Liza), Bruce (Linda), Ken (Diana), Raelene Brower; grandchildren: Jeff Bauer, Heidi (Eric) Starling, Jen (Ross) Moes, Charisa (Eric) Clarkson, Ben (Kathy) Brower, Kirt (Kelli) Brower; great-grandchildren (who delighted in calling her “GG”), Connor, Kennedy, Kaylin, Avery, Bailey, Madelynn, Luke, Brett, Judah, Kai, Khloe, and Kenzie. Ann firmly believed in the gift of salvation and eternal life in Heaven. She talked often of how she couldn’t wait to be united with Jesus and reunited with her family and friends. How that hope has made it easier to say a temporary goodbye to her!
Beverly Blair Wilson (’48)
10/22/1929 – 09/22/2025
Beverly Ann Blair Wilson was born Oct. 22, 1929, in Mason City, Iowa, and died Sept. 22, 2025, in Chattanooga, Tenn. When Beverly was five years old, the family moved to Madison, Tenn., where she lived until she married Bill Wilson ’50, in August 1949. The newlyweds moved to Lincoln, Neb., for a year while Bill finished college, then they lived in Chunky, Miss., for two years while working at Pine Forest Academy. Following that, they moved back to Madison where all three of their children were born. In 1958 the family moved to Fletcher, N.C., where Beverly raised the children and worked part-time in evenings at a hospital telephone switchboard while Bill was president of Mountain Sanitarium and Hospital. Their next move took them to Hinsdale, Ill., where they lived from 1963-76. At Hinsdale Hospital Beverly worked at the switchboard and in the patient admitting office while Bill served in hospital administration. She also was active in the Home and School program. The couple also lived in the Washington, D.C., area for three years. In 1980, the Wilson family moved to Orlando, Fla., where Beverly became “the face of Florida Hospital” through her work at the main-entrance information desk. Many people were impacted by her warm, friendly personality. The couple stayed in Florida until 2006 when they retired and moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., to be near children and grandchildren. From 2006 until present, Beverly volunteered at Samaritan Center, It is Written, and Southern Adventist University. She and Bill were generous supporters of education, and her open heart “adopted” many young people over the years. Beverly was an excellent cook, teaching this skill to her children and sharing it with thousands of people who enjoyed a meal in her home.