HUDSON — Harold Jerome Bauer, 85, died April 8, 2014 at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He died peacefully in the presence of his family.
He was born Jan. 7, 1929 at St. Rose Hospital in Great Bend. He was the son of Henry J. and Lydia Minnie (Nolte) Bauer.
He retired after 60 years from Bauer’s Grocery in Hudson, a business started by his father in the 1920s and continued on by him and his brother, Charles Dean Bauer, until its closing in 2000. After retirement, he helped his son at the Wheatland Café in Hudson. He was an active member of the Hudson Senior Citizens. He was an avid Kansas City Royals, KU basketball, and K-State and KC Chiefs football fan.
He was a football referee for 30 years, served as city councilman for 22 years, and mayor of Hudson for 34 years. He was active with the community Easter Egg hunt, yearly visits by Santa, annual slow-pitch softball tournaments, Hudson Centennial Celebration, and served as a Little League baseball coach. He was a member of Trinity Community Church, serving in different offices.
He graduated from Hudson High School in 1947, and Hutchinson Community College. He served two years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany.  He was a member of the Masons and American Legion.
He married Darlene (Sally) Ann Searle Sept. 2, 1956. Survivors include his wife Sally of 57 years; a daughter, Brenda Rhodes and husband Bruce, Marion; and son Darrell and wife Shannon, Hudson; grandchildren Matthew Rhodes, Washington D.C.; Jessica Fiscus and her husband Jeremiah, Arkadelphia, Ark.; Molly Smith, Marion; Justin Bauer, Stillwater, Okla.; and Jordan Bauer, Manhattan; great-grandchildren Noah Rhodes, and Brylee and Cooper Smith; brother Dean Bauer and wife Peggy of Hudson, and many nephews, nieces, and cousins plus a host of beloved friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Chet and sister-in-law Naomi, and sister Johanna and brother-in-law Silas.
Memorial Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Trinity Community Church in Hudson with Pastor George Redington presiding, and burial in Trinity Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Minnis Chapel, Stafford. Memorials may be made to Trinity Community Church, Hudson Community Foundation, or Stafford District Hospital in care of the funeral home.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Minnis Chapel *  
125 N. Main  
Stafford, KS 67578
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, April 9, 2014