- Date Of Birth: August 19, 1956
- Date Of Death: December 3, 2021
- State: Illinois
Verne H. “Tinker” Bader, 65, of Meredosia, IL, died Friday, Dec. 3, 2021, at his home. He was born Aug. 19, 1956, in Rushville, the son of Howard Ora Bader, Jr. and Margaret Elaine Bryant Bader. He married Cathy Kunzeman Schmitz on Oct. 13, 1990, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in rural Arenzville and she survives.
He is also survived by two sons and one daughter, Hunter Bader of Normal, Jeff (Jennifer) Schmitz of Meredosia, and Joy (Derek) King of Rushville; four grandchildren, Karly Schmitz of Melbourne, FL, Camden Schmitz of Meredosia, and Emma King and Elizabeth King, both of Rushville; and his sister, Mary Elaine Bader, and niece, Maggie Bader, both of Browning. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Bader was a 1974 graduate of Rushville High School and then graduated from Eureka College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He managed Bader Agriculture Service which was owned by him and his sister, a business started by their father in 1954. He was instrumental in variable rate (VRT) dry fertilizer and anhydrous ammonia application in the area. In 2014, he was honored with the Fertilizer Industry 4R Advocate award, and in 2018 he was entered into the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Hall of Fame. Tinker was a member of Browning United Methodist Church. He enjoyed fishing, boating, hunting, golfing, and traveling. He loved spending time with his family, especially his kids and grandkids.
