Marty Bauer

We have lost a great man. Martin (Marty) George Bauer passed away on December 22, 2025, following an admirable stand against prostate cancer. He remained true to himself until the very end, working the property, caring for his animals, and running his business. When the disease and the treatment battled in his bones and left his blood defeated, he came home to die on the property he first laid eyes on as a 14-year-old boy. Surrounded by family in the home he built by hand, with a view of fallow pasture edging the Rogue River, Marty passed peacefully into another realm with love and pride in his heart. As an active Rotarian, local real estate investor, mentor, friend and father, his impact and influence will live on.

Marty was born September 29, 1946, in San Francisco, California to Mary (Jonsson) and Martin Bauer. They moved to Grants Pass in 1954, where he became a part of the community. Marty graduated from Grants Pass High School in 1964, excelling both academically and athletically. He lettered in football, basketball and track every year, and his record in the shot put stood from 1962 until 2023.

After high school, Marty attended Princeton University, graduating in 1968. His decision to move home to Grants Pass after college was intentional, guided by strong purpose, his love of nature, and a desire to build community. He credited it as the best decision of his life. He married and raised a family with Ann (Stowell) Bauer and gave his heart and soul to the community of Grants Pass. Marty served on the school board, maintained friendships with grade school classmates, and developed and managed residential and commercial property in the area.

Marty’s role as a Rotarian was central to his identity. He joined Rotary in 1975 and served as the 1985-86 Grants Pass club president. He continued to serve the community through Rotary for fifty years, championing the Rotary Youth Exchange Program and Rotary Track Meet, and helping to develop community assets like the Reinhart All Sports Park.

Marty enjoyed the outdoors and shared his love of the Rogue River with everyone who came out to visit, whether it was rafting through the rapids, enjoying a drink alongside the river, or just taking in the view from the deck. He was also a cowboy at heart, riding in on horseback when he married his sweetheart, Kim, in 2014. He cherished his trail riding adventures with the High Desert Riders and his annual trips to Elko, Nevada for the Cowboy Poetry Gathering. If you ever had the pleasure of hearing him recite a poem, you will still hold on to the memory.

Marty is survived by his wife, Kim (Miller) Bauer; stepdaughter, Chelsea Kahler (Adam Kahler); son, Justin Bauer (Kelsey McKee); and daughter, Marissa Bauer. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, and his beloved horse, Digger.

Announcement to come in the spring for a Celebration of Life.

Please share a memory of Marty in his Guestbook.