Susan Jane Bauman

Susan Jane Bauman, 65, of Rochester, Minnesota, passed away on October 22, 2026, following a brief battle with cancer, leaving behind a lifetime of love and cherished memories.

Susan Jane was born on August 11, 1961, in Rochester, Minnesota, to Betty June Olson (Kisilewski) and Harry Kisilewski. The youngest of four children, she grew up with a deep love for family and music. She especially loved big band music and marching band, which became one of the highlights of her high school years. It was there that a clarinet and a shared love of music brought her together with the love of her life, Taylor. The two were married on September 18, 1982, beginning a beautiful life together. Their marriage was more than a love story; it was an example to everyone around them of what true, enduring love looks like. Through every season of life, their devotion to one another never wavered.

Together, Susan and Taylor raised four children, to whom she devoted her heart and much of her life. As a stay-at-home mom, Susan created a childhood filled with love, laughter, creativity, and countless treasured memories. She had a remarkable gift for making ordinary moments extraordinary, whether it was baking together, working on crafts, or making each birthday feel like the most important day of the year. Year after year, she found ways to make her children feel celebrated, creating traditions and memories they would carry with them long after childhood. She gave her children the kind of childhood they would one day look back on and realize was an extraordinary gift. Perhaps one of the most meaningful things she instilled in her family was the importance of never parting without saying, "I love you." It was a simple tradition, but one that spoke volumes about who she was. She made sure the people she loved never had to wonder how much they meant to her, and that is a gift her family will carry forward for generations.

Susan had a wonderful sense of humor and a particular fondness for a good "dad joke." She knew exactly how to deliver a perfectly terrible pun, earning equal parts laughter and exaggerated eye rolls from those around her. Making people smile came naturally to her, and she never missed an opportunity to bring a little humor into someone's day. Her playful spirit and ability to find joy in the simplest things made even ordinary moments memorable.

Family was always at the center of Susan's world. She loved family drives, finding joy in the simple pleasure of being together, exploring new places, and making memories along the way. Family vacations were equally treasured, especially trips to Chetek and Sand Creek, Wisconsin, where she loved revisiting the places that held special meaning in her mother's life. Her devotion to family extended across generations, and she lovingly cared for her own mother during the final years of her life, offering the same tenderness and compassion she had spent a lifetime giving to others.

Of all the roles Susan held throughout her life, few brought her greater joy than being a Nana. She embraced grandmotherhood with her whole heart, pouring her love into every visit, adventure, and little tradition. She was endlessly creative, sewing beautiful dresses and elaborate Halloween costumes, baking treats, and filling afternoons with crafts and laughter. Whether she was creating something special at home or spending a day at Oxbow Park with her best friend and granddaughter Lucy Jane, Susan understood that the most meaningful moments in life were often the simplest ones.

Susan also had an enormous love for dogs, each one holding a special place in her heart. Finley, Bailey, Sadie, and Maisie, the four beloved dogs she leaves behind, will undoubtedly continue to bring companionship, comfort, and a little joyful chaos to Taylor in the days ahead.

Susan is survived by her beloved husband of 44 years, Taylor Bauman; her daughter, Nicolle (Chase) Osterhout; her sons, Bryton Bauman, Riley (Rebecca) Bauman, and Chris Bauman; and her three cherished granddaughters, Lucy Jane Osterhout, Peyton Bauman, and Natalie Bauman. She is also survived by her siblings, Greg (Mary) Kisilewski and Debbie (Dan) Holmes; her sister-in-law, Mary Kisilewski; her brothers-in-law, Grant (LeAnn) Bauman and Lincoln Bauman; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Olson (Kisilewski); her father, Harry Kisilewski; her stepfather, Glenn Olson; her brother, Dave Kisilewski; and many beloved dogs who were surely waiting to greet her on the other side of the rainbow bridge.

Susan's greatest legacy cannot be measured in accomplishments or milestones, but in the love she gave so freely. She was a devoted wife, a wonderful mother, a proud Nana, and someone who made the world a little brighter, a little kinder, and certainly a little funnier. She had a way of making people feel loved, whether through a thoughtful gesture, a carefully planned birthday, or a joke so delightfully bad that you couldn't help but laugh.

While her family would give anything for more time, they will carry her love forward in the traditions she created, the memories she made, and the countless ways she taught them to love one another.

She will be missed beyond words and loved beyond measure.

A Celebration of Life service will be held 2:00 PM Wednesday, October 28, 2026 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1212 12th Ave. NW, Rochester, MN. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Bauman family; to share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.ranfranzandvinefh.com