"You have my deepest sympathy for your loss."
If you have lived in Crawford County and the surrounding areas for long, more than likely you knew Curt Bauer. Not because he was a public figure, but by him being a hard-working business man, husband, and father, with a kind heart.
Curt was the son of Ken and Lu Bauer, who moved from Council Bluffs to Denison when Curt and his sister Sue were small. You may remember the Dairy Treat south of town, owned and operated by the Bauer's. Curt remembered Sue and him playing there while their parents worked into the night. Sue and Curt would sleep on the shelves in the back room.
At a young age, Curt acquired a liking for fast cars. His mother Lu would often drop him off at the Crawford County Speedway on race night. Curt loved races of any kind. The same group of guys would sit together for years on Friday nights in the same area as recently as last race season.
As a teen, Curt had a couple muscle cars; a bright red Ford Fairlane and a candy apple red 69 Chevelle SS. He would cruise the loop on Thursday nights and many other nights on a dollar's worth a gas. Curt played keyboard in a band called The Bitter Ends, with his classmates Bill Dieber, Bill Davis, Craig Stephen, and Carl McGuire. Lu would take the band to as far away as Sioux City on gigs.
Curt was a gifted runner. He participated at the Floyd Page relays and state meets, and held the school record for the 2 miles for over ten years. Early in his junior year at Denison High School he met his wife, Kathy when they were both 17 and shared their first dance together at Cronk's, dancing to the Brass Tacs playing, " Midnight Confessions, " by the Grass Roots. They were together ever since.
Upon graduation in 1970, Curt went to college at Maryville, Missouri for 2 years. He and Kathy married in the Spring of 1972. Shortly after that time, Curt got a draft notice and was the last person to be drafted from Crawford County during the Vietnam war era. Enlisting in the Army, Curt was a Personnel Specialist, stationed in Pirmasens, Germany, where he was joined by Kathy and their daughter Casey. The Bauer's loved the German people. They became close to families, attending barbeques and, Christmas', and birthday parties. Casey played with the children there and learned to speak German at an early age. Curt's parents and brother, Bill, visited them there and the family traveled all over Europe for 30 days.
After serving there for over 2 years. Curt was then stationed in Columbia, South Carolina for 6 months. During that time, Curt got the opportunity to see his favorite driver, Richard Petty, at NASCAR races in Rockingham, North Carolina and Darlington, South Carolina.
In late 1975, Curt left the Army ranking E7. After being honorably discharged from the Army, Curt, Kathy, and Casey moved back to Denison. In 1980, their son Tim was born. In the early 80's Curt developed a love for riding dirt bikes and he became a member of the Hill Blazers M/C club until his death. Curt truly loved his Hill Blazer family and rarely missed a chance to participate in the club’s yearly events and get-togethers.
Curt loved to work on the home Kathy and he lived in for the past 30 years. Curt and Tim added a deck and porch on together and turned what was once a family room into the kitchen. Curt did everything himself, from laying wood floors, hanging cabinets, even running the gas lines, wiring, and water lines. He loved doing things himself and was always there to help others on projects over the years.
Curt joined his dad, Ken, working at Lindsay Soft Water and Ken's Sporting Goods on South Main, until Ken's death in April 1987. Curt continued to operate the business and added Deep Rock Bottled Water. With the expansion of the business, Curt Bauer Eco Water Systems & Deep Rock Bottled Water, moved to 7th Ave South. Tim often worked with Curt riding along on route deliveries covering several counties. Curt made friends and formed close relationships with his customers and their families, something he very much missed when he retired the bottled water business. Curt sold the business and retired in early June of 2020. Two weeks later, the day after Father's Day, Curt suffered a stroke and never returned home.
Curt passed away Wednesday, December 23, 2020 at the Manning Regional Health Care Center attaining the age of sixty-eight years, eight months and sixteen days. He was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Bauer.
He is survived by his loving wife, Kathy Bauer of Denison; daughter, Casey and her husband Matt Anderson of Rosalie, Nebraska; son, Tim Bauer of West Des Moines, Iowa; three grandchildren, Jessa, Tayla and Keagan mother, Lu Hennessey of Johnston, Iowa; sister, Susan and her husband Dean Hulsebus of Dallas Center, Iowa; brother, Bill Bauer and his wife Sharon of West Des Moines; other relatives and many friends.
Celebration of Life will be held in the Spring.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.
"You have my deepest sympathy for your loss."
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Lu, Kathy, Sue, Bill and Families, we are very sorry to hear about Curt. May you have peace knowing he is not suffering any longer. You will all be in our thoughts and prayers."
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Kathy, So Sorry to hear about Curt my Heart is Hurting for you and your family..keeping you all in my Prayers :pray::heart:"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"To dear Cathy and Curt's family, we are so sorry to hear this. Curt's Softwater business was a landmark on South Main for decades. You have our sympathy and prayers. Renee and Butch Miller"
"My Sympathy to Curt's family. My late husband and I used bottled water from his business for a few years. Carleen Schwieso"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"Lit a candle in memory of Curtis Eugene Bauer"
"1 file added to the tribute wall"
"Lu, Kathy, Casey,Tim and extended family members Keith and I are so sad to hear of your loss. We so enjoyed talking to Curt when we came to pick up salt for our softner. He always had a smile on his face and never had a cross word about anyone or anything. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Keith & Carol Jensen"
"My deepest sympathy and prayers be with you and your family Kathy."
"My deepest sympathy and prayers continue to be with you, the family, and the many friends that Curt touched. Sue Peters"
"Kathy, Debbie and I just learned of Curt's passing. Our condolences to you and all of your family. Steve Farnsworth forwarded his obituary to us. Curt led an exemplary life touched by the blessings of faith and family. He will certainly be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched. May God encircle you and your family in his loving arms in your time of mourning. Bill and Debbie Deiber."
"Kathy ~ Im so sorry to learn of Curts passing. He and Ken were absolutely wonderful to Mom for many years. My thoughts are with you and your family. Peggy ONeill"
"Kathy and family, sorry to hear about Curt, he was a good friend. Always willing to help. We will miss him."
"I will miss my friend dearly! I will miss his smile his kindness and his positive attitude. My condolences to his family for their loss. Curt was one of a kind individual. :pray::skin-tone-2::heart::100:"
"My deepest condolences and heart-felt sympathy to Kathy and her extended family. Curt has left me with only positve memories of our time together in Denison. God rest his kind soul. Wayne M. Magden"
"Lu and all of the Bauer Family, we are so sorry for your loss. We ask our Lord to watch over you and comfort you at this sad time. May Curt Rest In Peace. Mary Ann and Norbert Kasperbauer, Manilla"
"Our condolences, Our hearts go out to you Kathy and family. Curt always had a smile."
"So sorry for your loss! Prayers to you and your family!"
"Kathy, I am so very sorry to hear of Curts death. Please know that you, your immediate and extended family are being held close and in prayer!"
"Kathy, Casey, Tim you are in my thoughts and prayers, you have my deepest sympathy. Joyce Farrington"
"Kathy, Casey and Tim I am so very sorry to hear of Curts passing . You are all in my thoughts and prayers . Love ya"
"My prayers are with the Bauet family."
"Our prayers with you Kathy and your family :pray:"
"My deepest sympathy and prayers to Kathy, Casey and Tim. I spent a lot of time in the Bauer household growing up. Curt was always fun to be around. He will be missed."
"To Bauer Family So sorry to hear of Curtiss passing; He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time. Dale & Barb Carstensen"
"Sorry to hear of Curtis's passing. He was always friendly, polite with a quick smile. Reminded me of his dad. Will miss him!!"