Rodney Edward Bauer

1927 - 2008

Rodney Edward Bauer, 81, of Huddleston, Va., and St. Petersburg, Fla., died on Friday, September 12, 2008, in Bedford Memorial Hospital, Bedford, Va. Born July 14, 1927, in Chicago, Ill., he was the son of the late Adolph Edward Bauer and Lydia Karp Bauer. Rod was preceded in death by his wife, Jane Randolph King Bauer; and a daughter, Leslie Suzanne Bauer, who died in infancy. He is survived by two daughters, Wanda Louise Bauer Steinruck, of Barrington, R.I., and Pamela Randolph Bauer Welander, of Winnetka, Ill.; four grandchildren, Pierce King Steinruck, Lesley Cooper Steinruck, Annika Leslie Louise Welander and Bror Gunnar Randolph Welander; and a sister, Joyce Bauer Norris, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Having grown up in Chicago and River Forest, Ill., Rod attended MIT from 1945 to 1947, and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Northwestern University in 1949 with a bachelor of science degree in business administration, and as a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He served in the United States Army Artillery and during the Korean Conflict, in the Armored Infantry. Rod's professional career was spent entirely in the paper converting industry, from which he retired as President of Minerva Wax Paper Company, Minerva, Ohio, in 1992. He started his career in sales at Kalamazoo Vegetable Parchment Company in 1949, moved to Daubert Chemical Company in 1959, and accepted the position as VP of Sales at Minerva Wax Paper Company in 1963. Rod was an avid fisherman and especially loved boating. He was a member of the United States Power Squadron in Virginia and Florida, as well as a member of Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club and a past Commodore of the Boca Ciega Point Boating Club in St. Petersburg, Fla. Beyond fishing and boating, travel and photography were life-long passions. Rod was always generous, a great friend and a very loving father and grandfather. Rod joins his beloved wife, Jane, at Serenity Gardens Memorial Park in Largo, Fla. Celebration of Rod's life will be conducted 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2008, at Trinity Ecumenical Parish, 40 Lakemount Drive, Moneta, Va. 24121, 540-721-4330, and memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Ecumenical Parish at the address listed above.