Max Eugene Baumgardner

Max Eugene Baumgardner, 90, of Lebanon, passed away on Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Otterbein in Lebanon. Born on August 13, 1935 to Kenneth and Mildred (nee: McGough) Baumgardner in Yoder, IN.

Max was proud to have been a member of the undefeated 1953 Ossian High School basketball team, later going on to play for Indiana Technical College in Fort Wayne. He played baseball for years, then coached his kid's baseball and softball teams. After 25 years with General Electric in Evendale, Max took on a new position managing five hundred engineers at General Motor's Electro-Motive Division in Illinois.

Max and his wife Sally often drove into the prairie lands of central Illinois. Eventually they purchased an old dairy barn, converted it into a three-story home on 150 acres of land, which they affectionately named Rolling Thunder Prairie. They worked in conjunction with Nachusa Grasslands, a part of the Nature Conservancy, to not only return the fields to native prairie, but to also help reintroduce Bison to graze the land.

After his wife's passing, Max moved to Otterbein Senior Living and became active with the Scribbler's writing group and played bridge with some wonderful friends. His unique sense of humor was enjoyed by many residents!

Preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Sally Ann (nee: Studley), his siblings, Lois Jean Kinkaid, Norma Lou Wolfe, Jack Edward Baumgardner, Marlene Ann Boxell, Daniel Kay Baumgardner and Rita Mae Burris.

He is survived by his two daughters, Gretchen Claire (Jim) Hill and Karen Marie (Dr. Charles) Parker, and two sons, Erich Charles (Ann) Baumgardner and Kenneth Lisle Baumgardner, six grandchildren, Heather Harrison, Wesley Hill, Emily Pardi, JoAnn Jones, Nikisha Baumgardner, and Kenneth Baumgardner six great-grandchildren, Jadin, Liam, Nicholas, Valerie, Gavin and Madelynne.

Private services will be held by the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Nachusa Grasslands, 8772 S Lowden Road, Franklin Grove, IL 61031