May 9, 1940 – October 25, 2025
Renee (Baker) Goerger, age 85, of Watkins, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on October 25, 2025, after a courageous three-year battle with stage IV cancer.
Renee was born on May 9, 1940, in St. Cloud, Minnesota, to Elinor and Leo Baker. She married Leo Bauman on February 24, 1962, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in St. Cloud. Together, they raised three children and shared 32 years of marriage until Leo’s passing in 1994. On June 24, 2000, Renee married James “Jim” Goerger. Together they blended their families and shared many adventures, bound by affection, humor, and a favorite saying — they loved each other “a bushel and a peck.” Renee and Jim were devoted to one another until his passing in December 2023.
Renee found joy in the simple pleasures of life: a good puzzle, a lucky bingo card, a trip to the casino, or a perfectly cooked ribeye steak. She would never turn down a crisp Diet Pepsi. But above all, she cherished her family. Her happiest days were spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren — especially the precious miles and moments shared with her daughter Julie over the last few years.
A tireless worker throughout her life, Renee took pride in every job she held and was admired by her coworkers, who often joked that they wished they could have “more than one Renee.”
Renee is survived by her children Bryan (Melody) Bauman of Raleigh, North Carolina; Julie (Chuck) Swenson of Avon, Minnesota; and Ben (Angel) Bauman of Fort Morgan, Colorado; her stepson Mark Goerger; her stepdaughter Lisa (Tim) Schutz of Cold Spring, Minnesota; her brother Randy (Sue) Baker; eight grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Elinor and Leo Baker; her sister, Diane Zapf; her brother, Gary Baker; her first husband, Leo Bauman; her second husband, James “Jim” Goerger; and her stepdaughter, Amy Goerger.
Private services with family will be held at a later date.
The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Gardenview Assisted Living and Hilltop Nursing Home, to Dr. Al Khatib and the wonderful oncology team at Paynesville Hospital, and to the staff at Paynesville and Willmar Hospitals for their exceptional end-of-life care. Your kindness and dedication meant the world to Renee and her family.
