Douglas A. Fiery
Walter William Baur, 91, a 60-year resident of Chesterton, Indiana, passed away peacefully on Friday morning July 26 in Frederick, Maryland. Walter was born on April 8, 1933, in Providence, Rhode Island to Hedwig Randler and Walter William Baur Sr. He graduated from Riverside Brookfield High School in Brookfield, Illinois and received a bachelor's degree from Valparaiso University in 1954. Walter married Jeannene Westerhold in Farmington, Missouri in 1954. He worked as a cartographer for the United States Air Force in Washington DC and later in St. Louis, Missouri. In the early 60's he took over ownership from his father of the Ben Franklin store on 219 Broadway in Chesterton and ran a successful retail business until 1991 when he passed the store to his son Ken. Walter loved Chesterton and was a member of the Jaycees and was active in the Chesterton Business Association. In the 1970's he was instrumental in starting the Chesterton YMCA in the old Thomas School on Indiana Avenue. Walter was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Michigan City where he served as a Deacon and Trustee. After retirement Walter and Jeannene took a three-month freighter trip around the world. He also spent many mornings having coffee with friends downtown. Walter was a loving and caring husband, father and grandfather. He was married to Jeannene for 64 years until her death in 2018. Walter and Jeannene had four children, Ken, Amy, Jill and Constance with nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his stepsister Nanci Baur and stepbrother Edward Baur and cousins Hedy Ballestero, John Randler, Bonnie Gaston and Cindy Randler. A funeral service will be held Saturday August 17th 10:30am at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1237 E Coolspring Ave, Michigan City, Indiana.
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