Mary Jane (Gipple) Bair, 95, was welcomed into her heavenly home on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. She died at her home in Hazleton, Iowa.
The visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 PM on October 4, 2024 at Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein, Iowa. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM October 5, 2024, at the Grace United Methodist Church in Oelwein, Iowa. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery at Hazleton.
Mary Jane was born to Taylor and Lela Gipple on October 8, 1928. She was the third of their four children (Dorothy, Bob and John). At the age of six, Mary Jane showed her little streak of independence and determination, when she announced she no longer wanted to be called Mary; she wanted to be called Jane. So, Jane it was for the rest of her life.
Jane was raised on the family farm near Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Her quiet introverted nature was evident as she created ways to play contently on her own. You might find her in the hen house conducting the “chicken” choir, or perhaps under the large willow tree, typing away on the typewriter she had made by pounding a few nails into a board.
After high school, Jane attended Coe College and Iowa Wesleyan College, where she earned her teaching degree. Iowa Wesleyan is where she met the love of her life, Ted Bair. They were married on June 7, 1949, at the Mount Pleasant Methodist Church. After graduation, both Ted and Jane secured teaching positions in N.W. Iowa. When they decided to start a family, Jane left teaching, so she could stay at home to be a mother/homemaker. She loved her new profession, mothering three girls. Cindy arrived in 1952, Barb in 1954 and the surprise bonus package, Lisa in 1964.
Jane enjoyed hosting and entertaining family and friends. You always knew you would be welcomed into a warm and inviting home with plenty of delicious food and goodies being served. She also enjoyed reading, tending to her flowers and bird watching.
Throughout their marriage, Ted moved the family to many different homes in Iowa, Minnesota and North Carolina. (We always wondered if Ted was part gypsy). Jane showed her love, trust and faithfulness to Ted throughout all these changes. Their final move brought them back to Iowa because of aging and declining health. Their youngest daughter, Lisa and her husband John, invited them to live in the second home, that was already on their farm property. Living with Lisa and John next door, made it possible for Ted and Jane to stay together in their home until their final days. Our family will be forever grateful to Lisa and John for their selfless sacrifices and compassionate love and care, given to Mom and Dad/Grandma and Grandpa. The final seven years of Ted and Jane’s lives were filled with contentment and happiness because of them.
Left to celebrate Jane’s life are her children: Cindy and (Mike) Ruse, Barb and (Gabe) Gabelmann and Lisa and (John) Gerstenberger; her ten grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Jane was preceded in death by her husband Ted; her parents Taylor and Lela Gipple; her siblings: Dorothy (Fred) DeHaan, Bob (Lois) Gipple, John Gipple; her sister-in-law Ova Gipple.
