Leland J. Bauer

Leland J. Bauer

June 5, 1934 - October 3, 2024

Leland Joseph Bauer passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at CHI Health Lakeside in Omaha, Nebraska.

Leland was born on June 5, 1934, in Milford, Iowa to Nicholas H. and Minnie A. (Berning) Bauer. He graduated from Bayard High School in 1952 and attended Commercial Extension School of Commerce in Omaha. After finishing his education, he began working for Williams Machine & Tool in Omaha where he went on to become a partner. After he retired from Williams, he continued for many years to meet on Fridays for lunch with his partners. They met at their “office” in a rental building they owned which contained a few old empty desks and a beer fridge. He would say he only did any actual work at home.

Leland shared a great love with his wife, Marilyn, whom he married on September 9, 1961, at St. Peter Catholic Church. They enjoyed 55 years together.  Leland and Marilyn loved to travel. They visited all fifty states and several countries. They especially enjoyed their trip to Germany for Oktoberfest during the Reunification. Leland also had a love and great talent for numbers and math. He spent his career working with numbers through accounting and bookkeeping. It is a love he passed on to his four children who all ending up in math-heavy fields, be it engineering, accounting, or statistics.

His family and friends will fondly remember his silent laugh. When he found something very funny, his face would smile, his shoulders would shake, but no sound would come out. Some referred to it as his “wheezy laugh” which would just make him shake even harder. 

Leland is survived by his children, Diane (Preston) Jones of West Des Moines, Iowa, Susan (Mike) Lyons of Papillion, Nebraska, Mark (Jane) Bauer of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Lisa Brooks of Round Rock, Texas; eight grandchildren, Dylan (Catherine) Lyons, Ainsley Vatanasombat, Ryan (Abbie) Jones, Lauren (Andrew) Ridgway, Jackson (Sammie) Bauer, Joshua Bauer, Rachel Brooks, and Lydia Brooks; and seven great-grandchildren, Owen, Lettie, and Watson Jones, Chloe Vatanasombat, JP Ridgway, and Aurora and Ella Bauer, with two more on the way. Leland is also survived by his brother Edward Bauer, sister Arlene (Robert) Klapperich, sisters-in-law Sherry Bauer and Jan Bauer, sister- and brother-in-law Betty (Ed) Pierson and Frank (Mary) Fetrow, and many nieces, nephews, other family, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Bauer; his parents, Nicholas and Minnie Bauer; his wife’s parents, Dale and Mae Fetrow; his son-in-law, Charles Brooks; grandson-in-law, Travis Vatanasombat; and his siblings and in-laws Don and Pauline Bauer, Lois and Duane Shirbroun, Wanda Bauer, Robert and Carolyn Bauer, Richard Bauer, and Jim Bauer.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Madonna School for Exceptional Children in Omaha, or the charity of your choice.

Funeral Mass Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at 10:30AM with Visitation 1 hour prior at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 14330 Eagle Run Dr. Final resting place at Resurrection Mausoleum.