Bruce Bauman

Bruce E. Bauman, Age 85, passed away peacefully February 25, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born December 3, 1940, to Catherine, nee Bell and Valentine S. Bauman in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Bruce spent most of his childhood in Des Plaines, Illinois, a middle child with two sisters.

By most accounts he was a mischievous youth, earning a reputation for drag racing his 1958 Ford Fairlane after secretly souping-up his car with aftermarket parts. He also earned a reputation as a hard worker, having his own lawn mowing business as young teen, and during high school he worked as the produce manager at the National Foods store in Des Plaines. This store is where he first met his sweetheart, Judy Kay Moyes, who he said was the "cutest checkout girl" they had. Bruce graduated from Maine Township High School in 1958 and attended University of Illinois as a business major, where he served as the head of the Marketing Club. After freshman year, he enlisted in the National Guard where he served for two years at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Being away didn't stop him from hitchhiking his way back to the U of I to see his love, Judy, who also attended the university. After the National Guard he returned to college. Bruce and Judy married during the summer between his sophomore and junior year; he graduated in 1964.

Bruce spent his career as a successful businessman in a variety of roles: from his start working in retail management for Kroger, Jewel and other food stores to being a toy buyer and later apparel division manager for City Products. He left City Products in 1980 to start Valentine's Pharmacy (named after his father) in Palatine. His motto was "if Valentine's didn't have it, you don't need it" - which had some truth to it given that his store not only had all the typical items of a pharmacy, but had a full liquor department, lottery, stamps, gifts and greeting cards, and more. His annual summer sidewalk sales were iconic and attracted people from far and wide for the unique merchandise and exceptional deals. After Valentine's, Bruce started one of the first Nationwide Insurance businesses in northern Illinois - which he grew until his retirement in 2006. Throughout all his business adventures, Bruce had the reputation for stellar customer service and being a kindhearted employer.

Bruce was loved and supported through all of his life's adventures by his wife of 63 years, Judith Kay Bauman, nee Moyes. Bruce loved bringing Judy flowers, buying her birthday gifts, and splurging on her favorite chocolates. Together they raised three daughters - which Bruce joked meant he "had all the boys he ever wanted, and a few he didn't." But he lucked out with three keepers: Sandra Bauman & Dan Merkle of Glen Rock NJ, Kristen David & Michael of Hawthorn Woods, and Carolyn Meehan & Kevin of Palatine, IL. He was well loved by his 10 grandchildren: Rachel (Scott) Scanlan, David (Emily) Merkle, Josephine David, Angela David, Catherine Merkle, Raymond David, Colin Meehan, Luke Meehan, Garrett Meehan, and Dylan Meehan. He also had two great grandchildren, Laura Kay and Margaret Lane Scanlan.

Bruce loved all things related to "lake life" - he grew up spending his summers with his family on Lake Geneva, where he was a "local legend" for his expert water skiing and daredevil stunts. He also loved boating and sailing with his friends. Later, he looked forward to his annual remote fly-in fishing trips (over 25 trips over the years) to Canada with his friends where his record catch was a 47-inch Muskie. His dream of having his own lake home came true in 1988, when he and Judy bought their cottage on Lauderdale Lakes in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Here he instilled his love of lake life to his family - skiing, fishing, sailing, tubing, swimming, floating, riding waverunners, and of course - watching the sunsets. Today, all three of his daughters have lake houses, continuing his legacy of finding joy, peace, and family togetherness via lake life.

In addition to his wife Judy and three daughters, Bruce is survived by his sister Barbara King. He was preceded in death by his parents, Valentine and Catherine Bauman, his sister Virginia Mendenhall, and brother-in-law, Timothy King.

Memorial Visitation will be Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., at Smith-Corcoran Palatine Funeral Home 185 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine, IL., with a Memorial Service to be held that night at 6:30 p.m. Family and friends are invited back to the funeral home on Friday, March 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. for closing prayers and a procession to St. Theresa Catholic Church 455 Benton Street, Palatine, IL., for a 10 a.m. Memorial Mass. Inurnment to follow at All Saints Cemetery 700 N. River Road, Des Plaines, IL. For funeral info call 847-359-8020.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in honor of Bruce to the Lauderdale Lakes Improvement Association Fish Fund or to the Alzheimer's Association.