Joseph Bauer Jr.

Aug. 22, 1920 — May 15, 2016

Joseph Bauer Jr., 95, of Summerfield, Florida, (formerly of Belleview, Florida), passed away in his home after a short but painless illness early Sunday morning. 

Beloved father, friend, and teacher, he was a veteran of the Greatest Generation. He met the call on all fronts and served his wife, children, students and nation with honor and distinction.

Joe was born in Monterey, on Aug. 22, 1920, to Joseph and Mary (Mulkerin) Bauer. He was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman from childhood. He enlisted in the Navy in 1942, serving on a patrol torpedo (PT) boat in the Pacific theater for the duration of World War II. In December 1944, he married his sweetheart Wilma Jean Smith, of Clinton, the blind date who so captured his heart. 

After service he earned bachelor and master’s degrees from Indiana State University, taught industrial arts and coached in Winamac. After a successful career in educational publishing he returned to teaching, retiring from Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis in 1983. He and Wilma moved to Florida where they could fish year-round. They were active in PT boat reunions for many years.

Joseph is survived by four children: Joe III [Leslie], of Potomac, Maryland, Jeanie of Belleview, Florida, Pat [Medarda] of Sun City Center, Florida, and Colleen [Maziar Momeni] of Front Royal, Virgina, as well as seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his wife; and siblings:  Noreen, Regis, Ted and Mary Genevieve. All five served in active duty service to their country.

Services were at Roberts Chapel West in Ocala at noon on Saturday, May 21, with calling at 11 a.m. Interment followed at Good Shepherd Memorial Gardens in Ocala.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support the preservation and research of Joe’s PT boat heritage through one of the following: PT Boats, Inc., PO Box 38070 Germantown, TN 38183, or Battleship Cove (http://www.battleshipcove.org/donate/), earmarked for the PT boat museum.

(Pulaski County Journal — May 25, 2016)

Pulaski County Journal

114 W. Main Street
Winamac, IN 46996

(574) 946-6628
 

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