Obituaries
Gary W. Bauer
January 10, 2022
Gary Walter Bauer, age 78, of Norwalk, passed away Monday, January 10, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family after a yearlong battle with a brain tumor.
He was born June 11, 1943 in Norwalk and was a 1961 graduate of Norwalk High School. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from The Ohio State University in 1966, and a Master’s Degree in Agriculture Education in 1973. As he was working towards a Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University, Gary was hired as an Assistant Professor at OSU as an extension educator, then later became an Associate Professor and eventually a Professor Emeritus. Gary and his wife Mary met while they attended Ohio State and enjoyed attending Buckeye football games through their 56 year marriage. They also enjoyed taking trips to multiple bowl games to cheer on the Buckeyes. Their family have all been lifelong Buckeye supporters and hold 14 degrees from OSU collectively. Gary was a lifelong member of the OSU Alumni Association and was a charter member of both the OSU Alumni Association of Delaware and Huron Counties. He most recently served on the Erie County Alumni Board as the Huron County liaison. He was instrumental in facilitating multiple OSU Marching Band and Athletic Band concerts in all three counties. He was particularly proud of bringing the OSU athletic band to play at the Huron County 4-H Grade A banquet. Gary was very proud of his two daughters, Wendy and Robyn, and later their husbands Chad and Eric, for marching in The Ohio State University Marching Band.
Being a lifelong educator, Gary started his career at Sunbury Big Walnut High School teaching vocational agriculture, during which time he had a National Gold Emblem Chapter for ten years. He received the National Young Teacher of the Year award in Agriculture. After moving to Norwalk, he continued his teaching career at Monroeville High School. There, the chapter won the National Building Our American Communities Award. During his classroom teaching he mentored more than 40 student teachers, had dozens of members earn their State FFA degree, and numerous other national awards. He was very proud that his son, Scott, began and continues his agriculture education career at Monroeville High School in the same classroom where Gary taught. Gary was a lifelong member of the Ohio Vocational Association, the Ohio Association of Agriculture Educators, and the National Agriculture Educators Association. He grew up learning as a 4-H member in Huron county and then became an advisor as an adult and celebrated his 50th year as an advisor in 2021. He was proud to have second generation 4-H members in his club, the Ridgefield Country Kids. He was on the Huron County Camp Board and was influential in continuing improvements at Camp Conger 4-H Camp. He took leadership of Cloverbud Fun Day when the program lost funding and involved all of the family in welcoming the youngest 4-Hers to Camp Conger for a day of learning and fun.
Community service was also a very important aspect of Gary’s life. He was a founding member of Huron County Project Leadership and continued to serve on the board for his whole life. He served over 8 years on the BGSU Firelands College Board, served two terms as President, and was invited to attend BGSU Board meetings. He also served on the James H. McBride Arboretum Board. He was a charter member of the Heritage Society of Erie County and a member of the Huron County Agricultural Society. He and the Monroeville FFA assisted in moving the current Huron County Heritage house and re-siding the small heritage barn. He served on the Rural Conservation and Development Council Board and the District Five Area Aging Board. He was a member of Ohio Agricultural Council and Huron County Retired Teachers. He also served on the Norwalk City School Board for 11 years, where he helped design and watch over the building of the new high school which opened in 2002. He proudly served three terms as Huron County Commissioner.
Gary was a lifelong member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. He and Mary attended Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Westerville while living in Sunbury. He served on St. Peter’s church council for six years and was president for two. He played a vital role in developing the bell tower while serving on its committee and he designed the original landscape at the Benedict Avenue church. He served as an usher and loved to hear Mary play the organ at church every Sunday.
Family was most important to Gary throughout his life. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary A. (Motts) Bauer of Norwalk, whom he married September 11, 1965; children, Wendy Ann Bauer Reeves of Dublin, OH, Scott Walter (Jill) Bauer of Norwalk and Robyn Lynn (Eric) Rogers of Norwalk; seven grandchildren, Samantha, Sydney, Remington, Kenzie, Crosby, Colt and Clay. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mildred (Godfred) Bauer and his son-in-law, Chad Reeves. Upon returning to Norwalk in 1977 to raise their family, Gary and Mary planted their first Christmas tree at Piney Paradise Christmas Tree Farm. The farm was near and dear to Gary’s heart because of all of the memories with all three generations of the family. The farm will be celebrating the 40th year of sales this year. His tradition-oriented family has provided Christmas decorations for years in their yards and have had a family float in the local parades for 50 years. The holidays were an incredibly special time for the Bauer family. Participating in the county fair was another significant activity for the family. He greatly enjoyed watching all of his children and grandchildren participate in all of their various activities of 4-H, academics, athletics, music, dance, and more.
Friends and family may call on Sunday, January 16 from 1:00-4:00 P.M and 6:00-8:00 P.M. at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 243 Benedict Avenue, Norwalk. Also, from 10:00 A.M. until time of service at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, January 17 at St. Peter Lutheran Church with Pastor Ann Marshall officiating and Pastor Bob Sander assisting. Burial will follow at North Fairfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be given to the Huron County 4-H Committee for the Gary Bauer 4-H Scholarship or St. Peter Lutheran Church for Christian Day Nursery School educational supplies. The family requests that those paying their respects wear masks and observe distancing.
Gary W. Bauer
01/10/2022
Gary Walter Bauer, age 78, of Norwalk, passed away Monday, January 10, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family after a yearlong battle with a brain tumor.
He was born June 11, 1943 in Norwalk and was a 1961 graduate of Norwalk High School. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science from The Ohio State University in 1966, and a Master’s Degree in Agriculture Education in 1973. As he was working towards a Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University, Gary was hired as an Assistant Professor at OSU as an extension educator, then later became an Associate Professor and eventually a Professor Emeritus. Gary and his wife Mary met while they attended Ohio State and enjoyed attending Buckeye football games through their 56 year marriage. They also enjoyed taking trips to multiple bowl games to cheer on the Buckeyes. Their family have all been lifelong Buckeye supporters and hold 14 degrees from OSU collectively. Gary was a lifelong member of the OSU Alumni Association and was a charter member of both the OSU Alumni Association of Delaware and Huron Counties. He most recently served on the Erie County Alumni Board as the Huron County liaison. He was instrumental in facilitating multiple OSU Marching Band and Athletic Band concerts in all three counties. He was particularly proud of bringing the OSU athletic band to play at the Huron County 4-H Grade A banquet. Gary was very proud of his two daughters, Wendy and Robyn, and later their husbands Chad and Eric, for marching in The Ohio State University Marching Band.
Being a lifelong educator, Gary started his career at Sunbury Big Walnut High School teaching vocational agriculture, during which time he had a National Gold Emblem Chapter for ten years. He received the National Young Teacher of the Year award in Agriculture. After moving to Norwalk, he continued his teaching career at Monroeville High School. There, the chapter won the National Building Our American Communities Award. During his classroom teaching he mentored more than 40 student teachers, had dozens of members earn their State FFA degree, and numerous other national awards. He was very proud that his son, Scott, began and continues his agriculture education career at Monroeville High School in the same classroom where Gary taught. Gary was a lifelong member of the Ohio Vocational Association, the Ohio Association of Agriculture Educators, and the National Agriculture Educators Association. He grew up learning as a 4-H member in Huron county and then became an advisor as an adult and celebrated his 50th year as an advisor in 2021. He was proud to have second generation 4-H members in his club, the Ridgefield Country Kids. He was on the Huron County Camp Board and was influential in continuing improvements at Camp Conger 4-H Camp. He took leadership of Cloverbud Fun Day when the program lost funding and involved all of the family in welcoming the youngest 4-Hers to Camp Conger for a day of learning and fun.
Community service was also a very important aspect of Gary’s life. He was a founding member of Huron County Project Leadership and continued to serve on the board for his whole life. He served over 8 years on the BGSU Firelands College Board, served two terms as President, and was invited to attend BGSU Board meetings. He also served on the James H. McBride Arboretum Board. He was a charter member of the Heritage Society of Erie County and a member of the Huron County Agricultural Society. He and the Monroeville FFA assisted in moving the current Huron County Heritage house and re-siding the small heritage barn. He served on the Rural Conservation and Development Council Board and the District Five Area Aging Board. He was a member of Ohio Agricultural Council and Huron County Retired Teachers. He also served on the Norwalk City School Board for 11 years, where he helped design and watch over the building of the new high school which opened in 2002. He proudly served three terms as Huron County Commissioner.
Gary was a lifelong member of St. Peter Lutheran Church. He and Mary attended Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Westerville while living in Sunbury. He served on St. Peter’s church council for six years and was president for two. He played a vital role in developing the bell tower while serving on its committee and he designed the original landscape at the Benedict Avenue church. He served as an usher and loved to hear Mary play the organ at church every Sunday.
Family was most important to Gary throughout his life. He is survived by his loving wife, Mary A. (Motts) Bauer of Norwalk, whom he married September 11, 1965; children, Wendy Ann Bauer Reeves of Dublin, OH, Scott Walter (Jill) Bauer of Norwalk and Robyn Lynn (Eric) Rogers of Norwalk; seven grandchildren, Samantha, Sydney, Remington, Kenzie, Crosby, Colt and Clay. He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Mildred (Godfred) Bauer and his son-in-law, Chad Reeves. Upon returning to Norwalk in 1977 to raise their family, Gary and Mary planted their first Christmas tree at Piney Paradise Christmas Tree Farm. The farm was near and dear to Gary’s heart because of all of the memories with all three generations of the family. The farm will be celebrating the 40th year of sales this year. His tradition-oriented family has provided Christmas decorations for years in their yards and have had a family float in the local parades for 50 years. The holidays were an incredibly special time for the Bauer family. Participating in the county fair was another significant activity for the family. He greatly enjoyed watching all of his children and grandchildren participate in all of their various activities of 4-H, academics, athletics, music, dance, and more.
Friends and family may call on Sunday, January 16 from 1:00-4:00 P.M and 6:00-8:00 P.M. at St. Peter Lutheran Church, 243 Benedict Avenue, Norwalk. Also, from 10:00 A.M. until time of service at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, January 17 at St. Peter Lutheran Church with Pastor Ann Marshall officiating and Pastor Bob Sander assisting. Burial will follow at North Fairfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be given to the Huron County 4-H Committee for the Gary Bauer 4-H Scholarship or St. Peter Lutheran Church for Christian Day Nursery School educational supplies. The family requests that those paying their respects wear masks and observe distancing.