Stephen Messer Bahr, 88

On the last day of June, 2021, Commander Stephen Messer Bahr left us unexpectedly.

He was born in Bigfork on June 3, 1933. His parents were Caroline Ella Bahr nee Jellison, born in Bakersfield, California, in 1898 and Robert Oscar Bahr, born in Dresden, Germany, in 1899. Steve was the fourth of five children. He was predeceased by his sister Mildred Elizabeth Storie and her husband Kenneth Gale Storie, his brother Walter Paul Bahr, whose wife Vivian Joann Bahr nee Marsh is still with us. His sister Eleanor May Bahr passed at the age of 5. His younger sister Roberta Caroline Brooks and her husband Master Chief Russ Brooks are both still with us.

While growing up in Bigfork, Steve was a very competitive player on the Viking football and basketball teams. In the upper two grades he was the projector operator in the early days of the Swan Theater and a builder's helper in the construction of several homes in the Bigfork area.

As an avid and adept fisherman, Steve was often seen rod and reel in hand setting off to one of his favorite spots — particularly the Dago Hole and spots below the dam on Swan River and spots along the flume of the powerhouse. For a change in scenery, he would hike to Jewel Basin. His rod and reel was exchanged for a bamboo pole and snag hook to snag sockeye salmon along the river bank during their spawning season. In another seasonal activity, he helped his father maintain and harvest a cherry orchard on the East Shore.

Steve joined the Navy in 1952, soon after he met the love of his life, June Teresa Windle of Philadelphia. After Steve transferred to San Diego, June flew out and the couple took a bus to Yuma, Arizona, the day after Steve turned 20 where they married. Two years later, they had a son, Stephen Robert Bahr, born at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital.

Steve finished his enlistment, and the family relocated to Bigfork. Soon after, Lori Jane Bahr was born in Kalispell. June and Steve decided that Montana was not working for them, and Steve re-enlisted in the Navy. After a few more moves, the family ended up in Quincy, Massachusetts, where Eric John Bahr completed the family.

Steve’s career then put him back in Philly for a year, before being stationed on the USS Constellation’s commissioning crew for three years. The family moved to San Diego during this stint, but Steve spent much of it off the coast of Vietnam. After becoming a chief petty officer, Steve received a commission, becoming a Navy Mustang.

The next three years were in Hawaii, where Steve had shore duty, a very special time; next a year in Norfolk, Virginia; then two years in Rhode Island and then two years in Jacksonville, Florida.

Oldest son Stephen left for college and subsequently joined the Navy. Lori Jane moved to the Martha Lloyd School in Troy, Pennsylvania, where she still lives.

Steve, June and Eric moved to Virginia Beach where Eric finished high school and met his future bride, Wendy Bahr.

While stationed in Japan, Stephen met his bride, Toshiko Chiba. Their daughter and son Caroline Chiba Bahr and Ian Chiba Bahr were both born there. Stephen completed his enlistment and he and the family relocated to the East Coast.

Eric married Wendy Young and they had a son, Alex Cole Bahr, and a daughter, Katherine Marie Bahr.

Steve and June moved to D.C. where Steve did a stint at the Pentagon before completing his career at Pax River as the maintenance officer for the Navy’s Test Pilot School, retiring after 35 years as a commander. Steve served on seven different aircraft carriers in his very distinguished career.

They moved to Troy, Pennsylvania, to be close to Lori Jane. They bought an old Victorian and converted it to the Silver Oak Leaf Bed & Breakfast.

Since the early ‘70s, Steve and June had become avid RVers, traveling around the U.S., including Alaska and much of Canada.

A few years ago, Steve and June bought a residence in Benicia, California, becoming bi-coastal. Stephen and Eric’s family have all relocated to California.

Caroline Chiba Bahr married Dr. Christopher Warren Harmon and they have a 5-year-old son, Ethan Quincy Harmon.

Alex Cole Bahr married Xenia Tulupova.

Katherine married Timothy Dane Summerell and they have two daughters, Eleanor Mae Summerell and Florence Ava Summerell.

Much to Steve and June’s delight, Ian Chiba Bahr is now a Navy man, making three generations.

Beside his distinguished military service, Steve served as the president of the Martha Lloyd School board of directors, and in many other public service organizations in leadership roles.

Please send any contributions to Martha Lloyd Community Services, 66 Lloyd Lane, Troy, PA 16947, in honor of Cmdr. Stephen M. Bahr.