Leonard Emil Bauer

The greatly loved patriarch of the Bauer family, Leonard Emil Bauer, passed away on April 6, 2023 at the age of 99. He spent his last few days at Sartori Hospital surrounded by his children and their families. Leonard was the son of Emil Bauer and Julia Schaffenburg, born in Cedar Falls, Iowa on November 4, 1923. Throughout his childhood, his family lived in various towns in the area both on farms and in town. He learned to play the clarinet and took first place in a Midwest music festival when he was a senior in high school. He continued to play his clarinet throughout his life at church, home and in Thailand, entertaining many.

After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Army and served as a secretary to a general during WWII. Upon returning from service, Leonard fell in love with Mary Lou Gutknecht and they were married on August 3, 1947. Together they raised six boisterous children, Jim, Janet, Keith, Karen, Stan and Marlys on a farm near Hudson, Iowa for several years before purchasing the Janesville Locker in 1960. During this time, they worked together as a family at the locker and were involved church and community members. Leonard and Mary left Janesville in 1969 and purchased the Benson Locker where they continued to work together with their children Jim, Keith, Karen and Stan until their retirement.

Before and after retirement, Leonard and Mary spent most of their time with their large family and many friends by hosting countless meals and Sunday lunches, often followed by playing horseshoes, card games, jigsaw puzzles, singing hymns, or watching baseball or basketball games on TV. Leonard will be remembered for his great love for the Lord and his family, his amazing prayers, gift of prophesy, deep knowledge of the Bible, and heart for missions. But he would consider his most important accomplishment was leading his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren to love and serve the Lord. While he will be greatly missed on this earth, his family rejoices in the knowledge that he is with the Lord and his beloved Mary Lou, and our family will be reunited again in heaven.

Leonard is survived by his children Jim (Linda) Bauer, Keith Bauer, Karen (Dale) Webb, Stan (Bonnie) Bauer and Marlys (Dan) Surratt, and 15 grandchildren: Christy (Mike) Ryken, Kim (Dale) Eastman, Angie (Steve) Roberts, Michael (Laurel) Lingle, Amy (Scott) Halstead, Scott (Kate) Bauer, Jason (Sara) Bauer, Duane (Penny) Webb, Pam (Brian) Platt, Shari (Mark) Neese, Tammy (Darren) Burke, Matt Bauer, Brian (Jana) Surratt, Shelly (David) Penn and Alison (Scott) McLellan; and 50 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his wife Mary Lou Bauer, daughter Janet Lingle, son-in-law Mike Lingle and daughter-in-law Jody Bauer, as well as his parents and siblings.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at Grace Community Church in Cedar Falls, with burial at Zion Lutheran Cemetery, rural Hudson.  Military honors will be conducted by Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49 and U.S. Army funeral detail.  Visitation will be 5 - 8:00 p.m. Monday, April 10, at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home, Cedar Falls, and one hour before service at the church.  Memorials may be directed to the family for future designation.  www.DahlFuneralHome.com