Raymond Aloysius BAUER

BAUER, Raymond Aloysius
; I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race. I have kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7). In the presence of his family, Raymond A.J. Bauer made the transition to his new life, on Saturday, December 1, 2001, at 81 years of age. A special thank you to the nursing staff on the 5th floor at St. Mary's Hospital, for the kindness and care given to Raymond during the last eight weeks. On behalf of Ray, the family wishes to extend their gratitude to his loyal doctor friends, Dr. Golubov, Dr. Irwin, Dr. Puley and Dr. Rechnitzer for their generosity and patience. For 81 years, Mr. Bauer or Ray Sr. as he was affectionately called, lived life to the fullest...never putting off to tomorrow what could be accomplished today. He dedicated his life and energy to his family, to business, to sports and to the needs of the community. Patsy and Ray celebrated 52 years of marriage. Their ten children and twenty-eight grandchildren came together on special occasions, particularly on Ray Sr.'s birthday. His love of life and his ability to celebrate each and every day was what we remember from these gatherings. The family never ceased to be amazed by his independent thinking, his dynamic personality, his sense of humour and his fighting spirit. His ability to persevere and to overcome the challenges that life presented, taught us important life lessons that will be passed on to the next generation. Ray Sr. was interested and active in Canadian business and in particular family business. He was proud to be a member of the first delegation of Canadian businessmen that travelled to China in 1972. He was a loyal employee of Bauer Industries Limited for over 50 years and Chairman of the Board for Bauer for almost 30 years. Ray was a lover of sports and in particular the game of hockey. As a player, Ray represented Canada playing in a World Championship game against Sweden in 1949. Although none of us were present, many of us still know about this game. The score was 47-0 for Canada. For a time, Ray Sr. was written up in the Guinness World Book of Records for the greatest number of goals scored in international play. As the story goes...;Goals Bauer scored eight goals and one assist, with the game stopping after one of the goals to sew up the net! Once retired as a player, Ray devoted time and energy to make the game better for others. He was the catalyst for the founding of Canada's National Olympic Team. He encouraged his brother and best friend Fr. David Bauer to seriously consider giving Canadian youth a chance to play for their country in Olympic competition. Fr. Dave's dream was pursued, and young players were able to play international hockey while pursuing their education. Ray Sr. particularly loved the Olympic Games. He was an enthusiastic fan at many Olympics. A highlight of Ray Sr.'s life was in 1988 when he was selected to carry the Olympic Torch in its journey across Canada, enroute to the Calgary Olympics. Mr. Bauer was a proud Canadian. He loved Canada, his ;home and native land. His family roots were in KitchenerWaterloo. He was involved in the community working for many causes. His particular involvement included the Carmel of St. Joseph in St. Agatha, St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, The Heart and Stroke Foundation, The National Catholic Broadcasting Council, and the Fr. David Bauer Charitable Trust. He was a recipient of a Papal Knighthood in the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre and held the rank of Knight Commander. He was a life long member of St. Louis RC Church in Waterloo. Mr. Bauer was born in Waterloo and was a son of the late Bertha Hayes and Edgar J. Bauer. In addition to his parents, his brothers Frank, Bob, Eugene, Jerome and father David Bauer, and his sister Alice Schmalz predeceased him. His sisters-in-law Margaret Boyes and Betty Ann Young and brothers-in-law Edward Freiburger and Joseph Schnurr also predeceased him. Husband of Patricia (Schnurr); and father of Brenda and her husband Pat Murphy of Toronto, Barbara and her husband Marc Bauer-Maison of Stratford, Carol and her husband Neil Palmer of St. George, Maureen and her husband Dave McGahey of Perth, Raymond E. and his wife Renee (Uffelman) of Kitchener, Marianne and her husband Brian Hiff of Cambridge, Lisa and her husband Frank Leahy of Waterloo, E.J. and his wife Anna (Damone) of Bingham Farms, Michigan, Peter and his wife Kathleen (Fitzpatrick) of Waterloo, and Brian and his wife Holly (Hauser) of Hawkesville. He is also lovingly remembered by his twentyeight granchildren. Brother of Mary Freiburger, Rita and her husband Jim Huck, all of Kitchener, Therese and her husband Tom Dillion of Larchmount N.Y., and Margaret and her husband Joseph Laudenbach of Bayfield, brother-in-law of Sally Bauer, Harriett Bauer, Robert and Jean Schnurr, Dr. William Young, all of Kitchener- Waterloo, Jim and Vivian Schnurr of Burlington, Eleanor and her husband Bob Mueller, and Cecil Schmalz of Cambridge. The Bauer family will receive family and friends at the Edward R. Good Funeral Home, 171 King Street South in Waterloo on Monday and Tuesday from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday, December 4, 2001 at 8:00 p.m. The mass of celebration and thanksgiving for Raymond A.J. Bauer will be celebrated at St. Louis RC Church on Wednesday, December 5, 2001 at 10:30 a.m. Interment to follow in Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener. As expressions of sympathy, the family would appreciate donations to Ray Sr.'s special charities, St. Mary's General Hospital Foundation, The Carmel of St. Joseph and the Fr. David Bauer Charitable Trust. Donations can be made through the funeral home at www.edwardrgood.com or by calling (519) 745-8445.