Mary L. Bayer

The Prom Queen of 1958 has left us to attend the big dance. Mary Lucille (Kronzer) Bayer, born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin at Mercy Hospital to Joseph John and Lucille Catherine (Wagner) Kronzer. Mary, number six of nine children, was graduated from Oshkosh High School, attended Edgewood College, and lived in Cheyenne, Wyoming where she married William Chester Bayer (d. 1987) at the F.E. Warren AFB Chapel in 1963.

She settled in Denver and worked as an administrative specialist at the National Cattlemen’s Association from 1977-1988. Afterwards, Mary was a utilization review specialist at Concentra Insurance Company in St. Louis, MO. In 2006, Mary retired and returned to Oshkosh, where she joined her sister Margaret Susan (Peggy), and siblings who had also returned to Oshkosh in later years; Joseph, Cathy (d. 2020), and James.

In Oshkosh, Mary was an active member of Most Blessed Sacrament and sang in the choir. In her earlier years, Mary competed in state solo competitions, was the lead in several Oshkosh High School musicals, and sang the National Anthem at professional baseball games.

She volunteered at Mercy Hospital, was on the auxiliary committee at the Paine Art Museum and assisted her sister Cathy (Sis) and Peggy with the annual Museum Gala.

Mary is survived by her children, Heidi Jennifer Bayer (Brooklyn, NY), William Chester Bayer (Clearwater, FL), and Mary Catherine Young (Chicago, IL) and five grandchildren.

The choir of heavenly angels has gained a new soprano with the addition of Mary’s beautiful voice.


A service will be held at Most Blessed Sacrament - St. Peters site on Saturday, December 18, 2021 at 11 am.