Bertha "Bert" Ann Bahr

Bertha Ann ‘Bert’ Bahr passed away January 28, 2025 at Phelps Health Hospital in Rolla, Missouri. She was ninety-six years old.

Bertha Ann was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She was the seventh of nine children born to Tony and Opal. After graduating in 1946, Bert was employed at the Southeast Missourian Newspaper in Cape. She worked in the want-ad department and was the switchboard operator. In 1949, she was united in marriage to Burnell M. ‘Bill’ Bahr. Together, they built the life they loved with six children; 17 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren with the 40th on the way.

In 1952, Bill and Bert moved to Rolla and opened a retail furniture store. As their business grew, so did their family. Bert was known throughout Rolla as the mother with five little boys. Ten years later, they had their daughter. Bert traded in baseball pants for pom-poms and swapped the bowling league for musicals.

Bert welcomed her daughter-in-laws as if they were her own, inviting everyone to gather together for a meal every Sunday, making sure the family stayed close-knit, connected and well fed.

Bert was an active member with St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, was in St. Patrick’s Home and School Association and a member of the Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary. She enjoyed playing canasta, dominoes, going bowling, and snowbirding in Texas.

She was the pillar in the Bahr family. She embodied both strength and independence, yet her love and support as a wife were unwavering, creating a beautiful harmony between her personal power and her devotion to those she loved.

Preceded in death by her parents, five brothers, three sisters, her husband ‘Bill’ (2015), grandson Matthew Martin Bahr and daughter-in-law Anna Lytia Bahr.

Survivors include her five sons: Tony (Susan) Bahr of Rolla, Tom (Mary) Bahr of Rolla, John (Chris) Bahr of Washington, MO, Jerry (Denise) Bahr of Rolla, Bill (Jeanne) Bahr of Wesco, and one daughter, Connie (Jeff) Grisham of Rolla. Sixteen grandchildren: Joe (Jeana) Bahr of St. James, MO, Kim (Rodney) Kestle of Rolla, Sarah (Shad) Becker of Pevely, MO, Cathy (Isaac) Breuer of Columbia, MO, Jane (Bill) O'Connor of Rolla, Wendy (Jimmy) Zumwalt of Belle, MO, John (Liz) Bahr of Boulder, CO, Charlie (Crystal) Bahr of Kansas City, MO, Drew Bahr of Rolla, Jay (Jennifer) Bahr of Rolla, Travis (Mandy) Bahr of Rolla, Terry (Angela) Bahr of Washington, MO, Ben (Traci) Bahr of St. James, MO, Jared (Melissa) Bahr of Kansas City, MO, Candice (Rich) Perkins of St. Louis, MO, and Jennifer (Garrett) Payne of Columbia, MO. Thirty nine great-grandchildren with the fortieth to be born in April.

Services for Bertha "Bert" Bahr will be held on Saturday, February 1st at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Rolla. The rosary will begin at 9 a.m. with a visitation to follow at 9:30 a.m. Funeral Mass will begin at 10 a.m. Contributions can be made to Wishon Cemetery Perpetual Fund. Live stream of Funeral Mass will be available on St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Facebook page.