Claire Louise Bauer

Claire Louise (Eckbold) Bauer, age 79, of Bloomington, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2026, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, surrounded by the love of her family. Claire was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 20, 1947, to LeRoy and Claire (Sickler) Eckbold. She attended West Chester College in Pennsylvania and later worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield in Trenton, New Jersey. On February 12, 1971, she married Edward M. Bauer at Emilie Methodist Church in Levittown, Pennsylvania. The couple moved to Detroit, Michigan, where they lived until 1974. Their first daughter, Rachel, was born in 1972. The family then moved to Bloomington, Minnesota, where daughters Rebecca and Sarah were born. While raising three daughters, Claire was deeply involved in her community. Whether supporting her daughters' volleyball programs or helping organize neighborhood gatherings, she always found time to share her many talents. Next to her faith and family, music was the love of her life. She played the piano, sang in her church choir and Praise Band, and performed with The Show Stoppers, a local show choir. As a member of Show Stoppers, Claire not only sang and danced in each performance, but was their choreographer as well. Over the years, she also volunteered as a Sunday School teacher, youth leader, secretary for her church's capital campaign, and volunteer in her children's and grandchildren's schools. When her daughters were older, Claire joined the Bloomington Public Schools staff at Thomas Jefferson High School, where she worked for 16 years. She often described herself as the "mother of 2,000 students, staff, and parents." Claire loved her work and often said that she never truly felt like she was going to "work" during her time at Jefferson because the people she served put a smile on her face every day. She retired in 2012. Claire believed every day was a gift and lived accordingly. She embraced life to the fullest, making the most of every opportunity to spend time with family and friends. Whether cheering from the sidelines, traveling to visit loved ones, celebrating holidays, attending her grandchildren's activities, or simply making memories together, Claire found joy in every season of life. She especially loved the beach and being near the ocean, and one of her greatest joys was sharing beach vacations with her family. In March, she enjoyed one final week at the beach, returning home refreshed and rejuvenated. Even while courageously battling myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), specifically sideroblastic anemia, she refused to let it define her. Though it caused severe fatigue and required frequent blood transfusions, Claire continued to choose faith, gratitude, and the people she loved. She always had a smile for everyone and treated all people with kindness and respect. She believed every person's story mattered and had a remarkable ability to see the good in others. Selfless by nature, she considered everyone a friend, never held a grudge, and truly listened. A woman of deep faith, she maintained an ongoing, comforting conversation with her Lord and Savior each day. Claire is survived by her husband, Edward; daughters Rachel Walter (Mark) of Red Wing, Minnesota, Rebecca Egan (Jim) of Apple Valley, Minnesota, and Sarah Richmond (Brad) of Ashland, Virginia; grandchildren Leo, Teagan, and McCoy Walter; Tyler, Emma, Kaleigh, and Ryan Egan; Isabella, Ian Maxwell, Drake, and Koi Richmond; as well as many beloved friends and family members, including her aunt and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins from both the Eckbold and Bauer families across the United States. Claire was preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Claire (Sickler) Eckbold, and her brother, Lee Eckbold. Those who knew Claire will remember her warm smile, generous heart, steadfast faith, and the joy she brought to everyone. A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, July 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Bloomington Lutheran Church, 9350 Portland Ave, Bloomington, MN, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. A luncheon will follow. A private family interment will take place at a later time. In lieu of flowers, Claire's family requests that memorials be made to the American Cancer Society in support of research for myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), including sideroblastic anemia, the rare bone marrow disorder she courageously battled for more than two decades. Claire hoped that continued research would lead to better treatments-and ultimately a cure-for future generations, so that other families might be spared the challenges she faced with such grace, strength, and faith.

Claire Louise Bauer

January 20, 1947 - June 26, 2026

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