Thomas John Bauer
Thomas John Bauer was born December 21, 1937 on a farm in Durand, Wisconsin. He was the ninth and last child from a Austrian German speaking family. He grew up with his siblings farming and decided, farming was not for him.
He graduated from Menomonie High School, Wisconsin in 1957.
After a couple years of working at Bauer Built Tire Company, he joined the United States Marine Corps.
During his 20 year career he spent 11 years overseas in Vietnam and Okinawa, 5 years as a drill instructor in San Diego and retired as a Master Sergeant in 29 Palms. After retiring from the Marine Corps, Tom became a civil service employee as an installation safety inspector at 29 Palms, Yuma and El Toro Marine Bases.
Tom and Dorothy met in the summer 1977 and married March 31, 1978. With the marriage to Dorothy, he took on the father role to 3 young adult children.
After retiring from Civil Service, Tom and Dorothy returned to 29 Palms in 1993 and built their forever home in 1994.
Tom immediately became an active community member, joining the Elks Lodge, the Eagles and was a Chamber of Commerce volunteer. He was part of the many murals in 29 Palms and was always there to help anyone who needed assistance with handyman services.
Everyone around town recognized Tom by his happy smiling face especially at his beloved Ace Hardware.
He was a long time member of Little Church and served in the session. After many years he decided to attend the Protestant Chapel on the Marine Base to be among his Marine Corps brethren.
Last summer he decided to return to Little Church to attend church with his family.
Grampy Tom is survived by his wife Dorothy, children Karen Wagner and husband Ronnie, Kim Miller and husband Donnie, James VandenHout and wife Diana and grandchildren Matt Gillett, Ashley Finch, Courtney Miller, Clinton Miller, Alexis Pawelek and Jeremy, Paul and Douglas VandenHout, 13 great grandchildren, and one sibling, Leona Weinzirl.
Tom’s remains will be interred in the Riverside National Cemetery on November 8, 2024.
