Lyal Harold Bauer

Lyal Harold Bauer

Marion

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Lyal Harold Bauer (76) of Marion, Iowa passed away suddenly on Saturday evening, December 23rd, 2023.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 29, 2023, at Zion Lutheran Church-Jubilee, rural La Porte City, IA, with burial at Zion Lutheran – Jubilee Cemetery. Military rites will be conducted by Pump-Scheer American Legion Post #342 of Jesup, IA.

Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 28th at the White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, and will continue for an hour before services Friday at the church. Memorials will be directed to various children’s charities. Online condolences may be posted at www.White-MtHope.com.

Lyal was born in Independence, IA, on February 2, 1947, the son of, Harold G. Bauer and Beunah L. (Miller) Bauer. He graduated from Jesup High School with the class of 1965. He went on to graduate from Iowa State University with a degree in electrical engineering, in 1970. On May 8, 1970, he was united in marriage to his longtime sweetheart, Nancy Joan Tonn in Dubuque, IA. Lyal served in the U.S. Air Force as Airman First Class specializing in avionic instrument systems. While serving in the Air Force, he earned a master’s degree in Computer Science from Syracuse University in New York. After returning home, he worked as a Software Engineer at Collins Aerospace (Rockwell Collins) in Cedar Rapids for many decades and was recognized for a prestigious award, Engineer of the Year in 2006. Lyal was known for his kindness, humor, generosity, strong work ethic and intellect. He was a man who cared deeply and tirelessly for his family and community. He and his wife Nancy opened their hearts to love and care for many children over the years, including their own and many foster children. grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a loyal member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids, since 1977.

Lyal leaves behind his loving wife, Nancy Bauer of Marion; his sister, Geraldine (Geri) Remmers; his children, Lori Snyder of Jesup, IA, Joy Bauer of Florence KY, Matthew (Candee) Bauer of Independence, IA, Christopher (Robyn) Bauer of Marion, IA, Tara (Joshua Carrera) Carrera-Bauer of Cedar Rapids, IA and Melissa Bauer of Marion; his grandchildren, Allisin Merryman, Nathan Merryman (Sabrina Gypin), Xander Schneekloth, Abigail Cave, Kaitlyn Smith, and Paxton Fredericksen; and his great-grandchildren, Addisin Young, Jaylynn Bevins, Manny Merryman, Ezeriah Ellis, Ezekial Ellis, Madelyn Hartman, and Aria Smith.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harold and Beunah Bauer, two sisters, Maxine Buchsteiner and Barbara Bauer, and two granddaughters, Tiffani Schneekloth and Briana Timm

Lyal was known best for his corny dad jokes that he enjoyed sharing with everyone, strangers included. One of his favorites went as follows: upon hearing the amount owed at a store or restaurant, for example if the total was $12.22, he would then remark, “oh, 1222, that was a good year!” Another favorite of his was bringing a white bee in a box to church or other event and asking everyone if they had ever seen a white bee before. After much intrigue and questioning, it was revealed that it wasn’t actually a bee, but a small cutout of the letter “b.”

So, remember our dad by telling a silly joke to a stranger, opening your home to a child in need, and never passing up dessert! And by honoring the important things in life, which he knew very well were not things, but the people we encounter every day.

White Funeral Home, Jesup, IA, is in charge of the arrangements.