Donna Bauer

Donna Lee Bauer, 83, of Fenton, Michigan, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at Ascension Genesys Hospital on April 10, 2022. Donna was born in Mesick, Michigan, on August 14, 1938. She grew up in Cadillac, MI, and attended Cadillac High School, where she participated in the marching band and enjoyed creating artwork. From 1956 to 1960, Donna attended Western Michigan University, where she majored in elementary education and minored in science. Donna graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Western Michigan in 1960.

Donna Bauer was a long-time teacher in Michigan, and she taught first grade for 39 years. Donna began her career teaching at Garfield and Gundrey elementary schools in Flint, MI. Donna and her family moved to Fenton in 1970, and after her move to Fenton, she began teaching at Linden Elementary. Donna was a dedicated educator and wanted to make sure every child could read. Donna valued the power of artmaking in education, and she often used artmaking as a tool to link art, science, history, and math to learning topics. Over her teaching career, Donna taught over 1200 first-grade students. She was a long-time member and served for many years as the union president of the Linden chapter of the Michigan Education Association. Donna completed her tenure in elementary teaching at Argentine Elementary in Argentine, MI, in the spring of 2004.

Donna was a talented artist and very creative, and she enjoyed painting, drawing, crafts, and fabric arts. She was also a devoted gardener and was very proud of her landscaping and topiary gardens. She was a member of the Fenton Garden Club for many years, and she enjoyed sharing her gardens on garden tours.

Donna enjoyed traveling, and she took nine international cruises in ten years with her 25-year partner Mark Harrison. Her favorite cruise was to the Greek Islands, where she enjoyed seeing the architecture, art, and beautiful sites.

Donna was very proud of her daughter, son, and nine grandchildren. She loved to visit her family and often went to Colorado and North Carolina to see and play with her grandchildren.

Donna had a creative and active life filled with joy, love, and happiness. Her family and friends will deeply miss her. Donna is survived by her brother Jerry Trowbridge of Bradenton, FL, her daughter Michelle Bauer Carpenter of Boulder, Colorado, her son Michael Bauer of Charlotte, North Carolina, her partner of 25 years, Mark Harrison of Fenton, MI, and her nine grandchildren Ashleigh, Tyler, Robert, Marleina, Cole, Conrad, Annalise, Thorin, Brock, and great-grandson James. Her memory will live on in the hearts of her family and friends.

A private family memorial and celebration of Donna’s life will take place in Cadillac, MI, in July of 2022.

Tributes may be shared on Donna's obituary page at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com