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Christ Bauer Sheboygan, WI QCWA # 08587 |
Birth: Feb. 25, 1915 New York, USA
Death: Jun. 10, 2007 Sheboygan Sheboygan County Wisconsin, USA
On Sunday, June 10, 2007, Christ Bauer, age 92, of Sheboygan, entered his heavenly home with his Lord and Savior. He passed in the arms of his loving wife of 66 years, surrounded by his cherished family.
Christ was born February 25, 1915, in Staten Island, New York, to the late Conrad and Sophia (Bauer) Bauer. Growing up in Sheboygan, he attended Trinity Lutheran Grade School, and graduated from Sheboygan High School in 1933.
On September 7, 1940, Christ was united in marriage to Bernadine (Pat) Hamernik at St. Clement Catholic Church in Sheboygan. Together they raised five children: Kathleen (Frank) Plesetz of Sheboygan Falls, Jean Marquardt of Sheboygan, Ronald (Nancy) Bauer of Sheboygan, Robert (Mary) Bauer of Cleveland, and Peggy (Jake) Blazkovec of Algoma.
In 1929, one of the first broadcast radio music programs on WHBL inspired his interest in radio broadcasting. About that time, he built his first crystal set. Christ continued building much of his radio equipment throughout his life. This interest in broadcasting led to his passion of amateur radio. He earned his Amateur Radio license in 1933, and eventually obtained First-Class designation. He was honored for contacting 359 different countries around the world. Being proficient in Morse Code, he was able to send and copy at a rate of 40 words per minute. Christ was known to his early HAM colleagues as W9NVJ, and later was given the honor of a four-letter "call sign," W9RF.
Because of his expertise in radio and code, the federal government approached Christ during WWII to become a civilian instructor for the U.S. Army/Air Force. He trained U.S. Airmen in radio communications at Truax Field in Madison, WI, and at Scott Field in Belleville, IL. It was during this time that he earned his license and certification in Radio / Telephone and Radio / Telegraph.
Following the war, Christ and his wife, Pat, returned to Sheboygan where he began working as a radio engineer for WHBL radio station; the very station that had sparked his interest in broadcasting and HAM radio as a young boy. He built much of their equipment and relocated the station to four different transmitter sites. He retired from WHBL at their present site in 1982, but continued on as a consultant until 1984, serving them for a total of 40 years.
A "self-taught" man, Christ had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, and deeply valued every opportunity for education. It was important to him to always learn something new; "Keep educating yourself" was his motto. He took great pride in helping others. He trained numerous local individuals and helped them obtain their amateur radio classification. Even in his 90s, he purchased a computer and taught himself new skills.
Christ's faith and religion were deeply important to him. He was currently a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church. He served his present and past churches in many capacities including president, treasurer, and usher. In his spare time he also enjoyed fishing and never passed up an opportunity for a good card game, particularly, Sheepshead.
Christ's love and greatest pride was in, and for, his family. His door was always open to everyone, especially his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Hugs and kisses were always abounding, along with popcorn, milkshakes, and root beer floats. He and his wife were extremely gracious people, who welcomed everyone, offering them many laughs and good times.
Along with his wife, Bernadine (Pat), and their five children, Christ is survived by thirteen grandchildren, Judi Plesetz, Mary (fiancé John Mueller) Plesetz, Scott (Rhonda) Plesetz, Jaime (Jason) Doll, Brian (fiancé Jenny Scudder) Marquardt, Brian (Sheila) Hemb, Scott Hemb, Stacy (Shawn) Marten, Patrick Bauer, Nicholas (Kristi) Bauer, Robert (Rachel) Galanis, Jacob Blazkovec, Leah Blazkovec; and nine great-grandchildren. He is further survived by three brothers, Conrad Bauer, Richard Bauer, and Harold (Beverly) Bauer, all of Sheboygan; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Carol Bauer, and William (Ruth) Hamernick, Robert (Patricia) Hamernik, Robert Deutsch, M.D., and Rose Marie (Paul) Di Maggio; many nieces, nephews, cousins; and a multitude of very dear friends.
Besides his parents, Christ was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Emily and Frederick Leizen; two brothers, Arthur Bauer and Elmer Bauer; and sisters-in-law, Marie Bauer and Marguerite Deutsch.
The funeral service for Christ Bauer will be conducted at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, June 14, 2007, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church with Rev. Marcus Powers, senior pastor, officiating. Entombment will follow at the Chapel of Eternal Light at Greenlawn Memorial Park. Visitation of family and friends will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 917 Mead Avenue, Sheboygan, on Thursday, June 14th, from 9:00 a.m. until time of service at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Christ's name. Novak-Ramm-Ziegler Funeral Home is serving the Bauer family.
The Bauer family would like to thank Pastor Marcus Powers for his continuous support and words of encouragement. Thank you also to Drs. Michael Johnson, Mark Battag, and Steven Werner, and their staffs; and to the St. Nicholas Hospital Health & Hospice staff, particularly, Lisa and Leslie, for their dedicated care.
Christ had a great impact on the many lives he was able to touch. He will be deeply missed by all who love and respect him.
Burial:
Greenlawn Memorial Park
Kohler
Sheboygan County
Wisconsin, USA