Grace Baumgart

June 25, 1932 — March 23, 2020

Grace V. Baumgart, 87, of Willmar, formerly of Perham, died Monday, March 23rd at Carris Health Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Grace was born June 25, 1932, on a farm near Perham, MN, in Otter Tail County, the daughter of Joseph and Frances (Waldorf) Bucholz. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Perham High School in 1950. She attended Teacher’s College at Moorhead State earning a degree in elementary education. She taught school at New York Mills and St. Henry’s Parochial School in Perham.

She was united in marriage to Lauren L. Baumgart on June 2, 1956 in Perham. Following their marriage, she continued teaching elementary school.

Grace was always active in her community of Perham, having been a Perham Public Library volunteer, belonged to Perham Historical Society and was a 56-year member of the Catholic Daughters. Lauren preceded her in death in 2008 and in 2010 she moved to Willmar.

Grace lived a full life. To sum her up in a couple of paragraphs is nearly impossible. Grace adored her grandchildren and she loved sports and really enjoyed watching her son and grandsons play baseball, of which she truly loved. She especially loved the MN Twins and was privileged to attend four spring training trips including two special trips with grandchildren. Grace was able to attend a Twins game during the inaugural season at Target Field, and she rarely missed a game on TV. She enjoyed putting picture memory books together for each of her grandchildren. Her family is especially grateful for the family history books she wrote.

Family gatherings were of utmost importance and for many years she organized an Easter get together with extended family. She was the family organizer who planned reunions as she was the one who always kept in touch with the many cousins and she always enjoyed just “catching up with family.”

Grace enjoyed traveling with Lauren, baking, books, teaching 4th graders, her grandchildren and card games. She played whist and 500 with her friends at Independence Place in Willmar seven nights a week. Grace had a sweet tooth for hot fudge sundaes from Dairy Queen and she is now in heaven enjoying a DQ, catching up with family and friends, and watching a Twins game. She will be greatly missed.

Surviving are her children: Pamela (Tim) Lanz of Vergas; Paula (Robert) Davis of Watertown, SD; Terry (Sharon) Baumgart of Vergas; Angela Baumgart of Watertown, SD; David (Jen) Baumgart of Willmar; 13 grandchildren: Sam (Jamie) Lanz, Grace (Ryan Kopp) Lanz, Adrienne (Adam Mohrbacher) Lanz, Phillip (Joy) Davis, Jocelyn (Ed) Davis-George, Joey Davis, Amanda Baumgart Henke, Tommy (Kayely Wallen) Baumgart, Haley (Zach) Nelson, Andre’ Baumgart, Jack Baumgart, Andrew Baumgart and Ila Baumgart; and nine great grandchildren. Also surviving are her sister, Margaret (Alvin) Mattfeld and brother, Rich (Carol) Bucholz, both of Perham; brother-in-law, Gerald (Joanie) Matz of Perham. She is also survived by other family and friends.

In addition to her husband, Lauren, she was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Donald (Gail) Bucholz; grandson, Matthew Baumgart; great granddaughter, Mae Grace George and sister-in-law, Geraldine (Delbert) Matz Bauck.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 11:00a.m. on Friday, June 25, 2021 at St. Henry Catholic Church in Perham. A Private Graveside Service will be at Calvary Lutheran Cemetery in Perham.