Donald Eugene Bauer

Donald E. Bauer passed away February 19, 2015 at Longmont United Hospital. He was 88 years old.He was born April 3, 1926 in Steamboat Springs, CO, the 5th of seven children, to Herman F. and Mary Grace (Luekens) Bauer. Don graduated from Longmont High School class of 1944. Don enlisted in the Navy in 1944. He attended radio school in San Francisco and was assigned to a Convoy Duty in the Pacific on P.C. 1079. He chased some Japanese subs and visited many ports in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in1946.Don attended the University of Colorado in Boulder 1946 to 1950 and during the summer months he worked at Colorado Stone Company in Longmont. He spent a year in Berkeley, CA in 1951 but came home to help his parents when his father fell ill. He provided a home for his parents and sister until his mother's death in 1984.Don built a career at Colorado Stone and retired from there in 1992. As a stone mason he created custom fireplaces, stone entryways and buildings. He was proud that one of his marble pedestals is in the Smithsonian in Washington, DC as the base for a bronze sculpture. Don never married but his life was filled with friends. Don was passionate about sports. He managed the softball team for Colorado Stone and won many tournaments and played all over the USA in the late fifties and sixties. Don served as President of the Longmont Bowling Association and President of the Colorado State Bowling Association 1981-1982. Don was an avid golfer and fisherman. Until his health prevented it, he traveled to visit friends to golf and particularly enjoyed going to Mexico to fish. He loved all sports and to his last days would never willingly miss a Bronco, Rockies or Nuggets game on TV.He was a member of First United Methodist Church and American Legion Post 32 and VFW Post 2601. Don was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Robert, Grant and Ronald and one sister, Helen and nephew, Phil Bauer.Don is survived by two sisters Betty Evig of Fort Collins, CO and Marilyn O'Connell of Rising Sun, MD and sister-in-law Alice Bauer of Loveland. He is also survived by his nephews Lynn Stonebraker (Lavonne), Dan Evig (Barb), Bob Bauer (Aechin), Ron Bauer (Deb), and Rory Barton (Pam) and nieces Dorna Issa, Jan Bump (Al), Sharon Jensen (Allen), Michelle Jordan (Steven) Cindy Barton-Lewis (Terry), Terri Lynne Barton and niece-in-law Laura Bauer. Don requested no service but said, If you would like to raise a glass to me, that would be swell. Inurnment will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery. Cremation at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel and Crematory. Donations can be made to the American Legion Post 32. Visit www.ahlbergfuneralchapel.com to share condolences