Wade Bauer

Wade Arlan Bauer was born September 19, 1923, in Clay Center, KS, along with his twin brother, Wynn Aral, to Ernest William and Pera Aral (Nemnich) Bauer. He graduated from Clay Center High School in 1941. Wade married Connie Coreen Demaray on December 6, 1944, in Chicago, IL. Three children blessed this union: David, Ernest, and Nancie. A veteran of World War II, Wade served with the U.S. Army in Fort Knox, KY. He was very active in the Broughton community, coaching youth baseball, softball, and basketball teams. He was active as a 4-H leader and Clay County fair board president. He started the Gospel Sing in conjunction with the Clay County Fair. He helped initiate the Inspirational Sing through the Arts Council. He was a member of the United Methodist Church and Kiwanis Club where he served as the lieutenant governor of district 4. After his farming career, Wade worked at Peoples National Bank as the farm loan representative for 25 years. Wade co-founded the B’s girls fast-pitch softball program in the 1950s. He devoted many hours to working with the youth of the community, managing and coaching the B’s softball teams for over 50 years. He was inducted into the Kansas Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1993. The Wade Bauer Softball Complex was named in his honor in 2007. Wade was an avid woodworker. He built beautiful furniture and refurbished pump organs. He enjoyed his garden and fruit trees. During the past three years, Wade resided at Country Place Senior Living in Clay Center. Wade was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Connie, in 2011; sister, Greta (Pat), in 1968; brother, Gail, in 2013, and brother, Lafe, in 2014. Survivors include his sons, David and wife Ann of Kearney, NE; Ernest and wife Frances of Davisburg, MI; daughter Nancie and husband Thomas Stelle of Lenexa, KS; 12 grandchildren: Paul, Marc, Andrew, Rebecca, Joshua, Andrea, Wade, Russell, Abigail, Bradley, Gregory, and Douglas; 30 great-grandchildren: Matthew, Sarah, Meghan, Hannah, Ryan, Scott, Allison, Julia, Sophia, Henry, Benjamin, Nora, Andrew, Madilynne, Lydia, William, Lucas, Peter, Adam, Jackson, Emma, Greta, Hudson, Audrey, Amelia, Oliver, Oscar, Addison, Madeleine, and Emaline; brothers Wynn and wife JoAnn of Clay Center, KS, Robert and wife Jane of Wichita, KS; sister Pera Beth and husband Bill Eichelberger of Denver, CO; many nieces and nephews; and a host of softball players and coaches dear to his heart. Visitation will be at the Neill-Schwensen-Rook Funeral Home, Thursday, August 6, 2015 from 3-8PM. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30AM Friday, August 7, 2015 at the Clay Center United Methodist Church. Burial will be at the Broughton Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Clay County Educational Endowment Association and can be sent to P.O. Box 205 Clay Center, Kansas 67432.