Raymond L. Bauer, 95, Overland Park, passed away on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, at his home. His visitation will begin at 6 p.m. followed by a funeral service at 7 p.m. Friday at McGilley & Hoge Chapel, 8024 Santa Fe Dr., Overland Park. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Highland Cemetery, Iola, for family and friends.
Raymond was born Aug. 9, 1922, in LaHarpe, to George and Cordie Bauer. He had three brothers: Floyd, Charles and Kenneth. He grew up on a farm in Allen County and attended school in LaHarpe. He worked on different ranches, before being employed by Pet Milk Co. in Iola, until his entry into the U.S. Navy in September of 1942. He went aboard the Battleship U.S.S. North Carolina in Pearl Harbor and served in the South Pacific from Guadalcanal to Tokyo Bay, until the Peace Signing of WWII in 1945. Raymond married Nellie F. Moss in 1944 and they were married for 73 years. To this union was born one child, Karen S. (Bauer) Manley. After the war, he returned to Pet Milk Co. and was employed there until 1966, when his family moved to Wichita, where he was District Engineer at Duo Bed Corp until it closed in 1975. He installed furnishings at several hotels at Disney World in Florida at the time when Disney World was first being developed. Raymond was then employed at Safeway as Refrigeration Engineer until retiring in 1987. After retiring, he and Nellie sold their home in Wichita and moved to Overland Park, to be closer to their daughter and grandsons. He was a member of the United Methodist Church.
Raymond was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers; nephew, William C. Karr, Jr.; and sisters-in-law, Edythe Karr and Hazel Bauer. He is survived by his wife, Nellie F. Bauer; his daughter; Karen Manley and her husband, Robert F. Manley, Jr., Shawnee; three grandsons, Howard Kenneth Gilpin III, Shawn Raymond Gilpin and his wife, Saundra Elaine Gilpin and Jason Manley; granddaughter, Karrie L. Manley; two precious great granddaughters, Skyler Elizabeth Gilpin and Summer Renee Gilpin; sister-in-law, Lois Bauer, Coffeyville; two nieces, Tonjia Kolanowski of Tucson, Ariz., and Vickie Hawkins of Coffeyville, and nephew, Chuck Bauer, Coffeyville, Okla.. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the American Stroke Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL 60674. Online condolences may be left at www.mcgilleyhoge.com.
