OREGON - Gary Bauer, 74, of Oregon passed away in his home on Sept. 12, 2020.

A memorial Mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 18 at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Sublette with Rev. Randy Fronek officiating. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, masks and social distancing measures are required including placing a hand over your heart in place of hugging and handshakes. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Sublette.

Gary was born Feb. 17, 1946 in Mendota to Gilbert and Virginia (Bell) Bauer, the oldest of four children. He married Cathy Bonnell on April 17, 1971 in Dixon.

Survivors include his wife of Oregon; his canine companion, Bella; two daughters, Melissa and Amy of Madison, Wis.; two brothers, Warren (Sandy) and George, both of Mendota; a sister, Kathy Knowlton of LaMoille; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved parents.

Gary grew up and farmed in West Brooklyn. He attended school in Shaw Station, Compton and Mendota, where he was a member of FFA. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in Vietnam at the Tuy Hoa Air Base as a jet engine mechanic in 1968 and 1969. After returning from Vietnam, he met Cathy and they married in 1971. They raised their daughters in Compton. After their daughters moved away for college, Gary and Cathy moved to Oregon, Ill. He worked for several decades at Swift & Company (later Rochelle Hormel Foods) and prior to his retirement, he worked at Northern Illinois University. He enjoyed taking care of his lawn, loving his many schnauzers over the years, and watching auto auctions and sports (specifically, Cubs baseball and college football) on television with his dog, Bella on his lap. He loved old time rock and roll music and Coca-Cola. He was a loving husband, father, brother and son.

Memorial donations in Gary’s name may be gifted to the Oregon EMT/Fire Department.