Joel Fletcher Bauer

June 17, 1953- April 16, 2011

Joel Fletcher Bauer, child of God, departed from this world into the arms of his Savior on April 16, 2011.

A private memorial for the immediate family is planned for a later date.

Joel was born on June 17, 1953, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Joel lived in New Orleans and Crowley, Louisiana, Ellisville, Mississippi and Houston, Texas before moving overseas to The Hague, The Netherlands.

He returned to Houston, Texas, graduated from Bellaire High School, and attended the University of Houston. He traveled extensively in Europe while living there and later visiting his parents in Southeast Asia. He also worked in Alaska

Joel was a popular student and remembered as a fierce competitor in baseball and football. He was on the Bellaire HS diving team and played hockey in high school. As a young child, Joel was fun, mischievous and always had a happy, laughing spirit. Joel loved sports; quickly excelling at each one he tried. When his friends wanted to get together a sandlot game, Joel was the first one called and if Joel were coming, everyone would follow.

In his early twenties, Joel was stricken with schizophrenia and never was the same. At one point Joel partially recovered when he lived in College Station with his brother who was attending Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine.

Joel had a loving, and caring spirit. With his first paycheck from washing dishes, Joel went to Albertsons and bought the roommates "treats" which included soda pop called Woosies for the dog, Jake, a Weimaraner. Joel didn't want Jake "to just satisfy himself with plain water". Joel lived the last thirty years of his life at Discovery 4, a facility for patients where he could come and go freely in Los Angeles, California. He always talked of his friends from his high school and college years in Houston and of his brief time in College Station.

Joel was preceded in death by his father, Nathan E. Bauer and survived by his mother, Mary Alice F. Bauer of Wimberley, Texas; and siblings Dr. Nathan E. Bauer, Jr. and wife, Dr. Rhonda Bauer, of College Station, Texas; Gwen McLeod and husband Angus of San Antonio, Texas; Dr. Jill Gabrielsen and husband Ed of Norway, Maine; and numerous nephews, nieces, aunts, and uncles.

Joel (and his brother) asked Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior shortly before Joel was afflicted with Schizophrenia. We take solace that Joel is free from his cancer-ravaged body and schizoprhenia-tormented mind and now is experiencing eternal Joy and Peace.

The way Joel loved and cared for his friends, family, and fellow man, we know he would want everyone to have the same opportunity to experience what he feels right now and forever.
Joel died peacefully on April 16th of lung cancer in San Antonio.

Memorials in Joel's name may be made to NARSAD at www.narsad.org