Frederick Bauer

May 28, 1915 – March 2, 2012

Frederick (Fritz) Bauer, 96, of Greeley, died March 2, 2012 at North Colorado Medical Center Hospice Unit in Greeley. He was born May 28, 1915 near Carlock, South Dakota to George and Katharine Bauer. Fritz was of German-Russian heritage, was a staunch believer in the Lord, trusting Him each day, and he had a vital prayer life. His family was raised at St. Paul’s Congregational Church in Greeley. He was honest to a fault. He had very strong hands, and his life of hard work gave him great strength and endurance. He had helped build Buckley AFB.

The family moved to Fort Collins from South Dakota when he was 5, where they farmed for many years. After his father’s death the family moved to Greeley where Fritz worked as an apprentice plumber. Fritz joined the Navy in April of 1943. He served in the 12th Special Battalion attached to the Marines where he was stationed in Okinawa and Banika among other locations. Fritz was a proud “Seabee Marine”. He was honorably discharged November 6, 1945. Today, most appropriately, he will be given full military honors. He returned to Greeley to continue his career as a Plumber. His first marriage to Freda, the mother of his 2 daughters, lasted 17 years. His second marriage to Grace lasted 28 years. Fritz had a wonderful sense of humor and a big bark, but had no bite. Often, the barks were in German.

Fritz bought and operated Bauer Plumbing and Heating in Greeley until he closed the business in 1980 at the age of 65, but continued in plumbing and other fix-it work for another decade or so for friends. Fritz always found time for that “cold one” at the local pool hall, the Sportsman, with friends after a hard day’s work. Fritz was an avid fisherman and enjoyed many days walking the stream banks in pursuit of that “big one”. Seeley Lake was one of his favorite fishing holes. There were always plenty of others there to talk the fishing game and do a little bragging.

Fritz loved his home at 1114 - 7th Ave. He had built his own shop behind it out of recycled material from a nearby building that was torn down. It not only was his home and shop, it was home for hundreds of chickens, a few dozen rabbits, ducks and even a pig—all lovingly fed and cared for. His chickens were truly ‘free range’, most having come from Frank’s Seed and Hatchery, and also roaming several neighborhoods. He had a wonderful collection of hand tools, and a huge parts inventory to fix just about anything. He even still had all of his sheet metal equipment. Fritz spent the summer collecting wood to be burned in the winter to keep the shop warm. He had several old cherry trees, rescued from the Loveland orchards, that are still prolific producers. It was almost impossible to get Fritz to the doctor. They had asked him who his family doctor was, and he said he didn’t have one, because they had all died. He never took any pills, even aspirin. Finally, the family took him to the VA clinic here in Greeley. A sizable hernia was discovered. The doctor warned him to get immediate help if he ever had a sharp pain. It happened one night, but Fritz thought it was too late to bother the family, so he just prayed hard. Fritz was sure the Lord had healed it, because it never bothered him again.

Fritz is survived by 2 daughters, Sandra McCarty and Nancy Steele, two son-in-laws John McCarty and Dwight Steele, all of Greeley; there are 4 grandchildren—Lori Veenendaal (Glen), Bryan McCarty (Tawny), Jennifer Archuleta (Andy) and Nicole Steele; and also there are 6 great grandchildren—Kayla Steele-Trosper, Kimberly Archuleta, Whitney Veenendaal, Aimee Veenedaal, Landen McCarty and Austin McCarty; a sister, Mollie Altergott survives, plus a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, and also 2 chickens and Kaylee the cat. He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 sisters and 2 brothers. Fritz was an absolutely wonderful father, grandfather and great grandfather. He will truly be missed.