Jean E. Bara

Jean E. Bara, 75, of Peru, died peacefully at home on the evening of March 10, 2018 with family and friends by her side.

A Celebration of Life will be at 4:00 PM Saturday in the Hurst Funeral Home in La Salle with a Flute Ensemble performed by her former students.  Services will follow with Rev. John Graham, Pastor of United Church of Christ in Spring Valley.  Burial will be private. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Saturday from 12:00 PM until time of services.

Jean was born in Green Bay, WI on February 12, 1943 to Herbert B. and Elizabeth Mae (Clark) Wenberg.  She married Rodger S. Bara in De Pere, WI on December 28, 1968.

Mrs. Bara graduated from East De Pere High School in 1961 and Illinois Wesleyan University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree.  She was a member of United Church of Christ in Spring Valley where she taught Sunday School for 10 years.  She played Principle Flute with the Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra for 33 years, until Parkinson’s Disease caused her playing days to end. She served as Treasurer and President of Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra Board.  She performed in a Chamber Trio, and in all local city bands and Band-O-Rama contests.  Jean is listed in Who’s Who in Illinois Teachers, in which teachers are selected by their students. She taught in Hennepin, Bradford, LaMoille, with her final ten years in Malden and Ladd.  Jean subbed in the Peru School system.  She served as piano accompanist for many school contests and taught private flute lessons for at least 40 years.

Jean is survived by her husband Rodger S. Bara of Peru; one daughter Lea Mae Bara of Peru; son, Eric (Angela) Bara of Deer Park; four grandchildren, Madison, Ethan, Evan and Ava; and loving grand pets; siblings, Edwin (Judy) Wenberg of Warsaw, MO, David (Brenda) Wenberg of Waupaca, WI, Mary (Randy) White of La Salle and Bill (Linda) Wenberg of Neenah, WI.

She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister Barbara (Wayne) French and one brother Tommy in infancy.

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