MENDOTA - Kenneth Stephen Bauer, 80, of rural Mendota died Oct. 23, 2017 at his residence.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 27 at the Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota with Rev. Sandy Smith officiating. Burial will take place at the Troy Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until time of services on Friday at the funeral home.

Kenneth was born April 28, 1937 in Rockford to Floyd L. and Ida Oleva (Moyer) Bauer. He married Ethel Mary Pearson on Jan. 18, 1975.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Edward M. Rich and Kenneth M. Bauer; one daughter, Melissa K. Zwart; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Floyd (Carol) Bauer, Clyde (Lois) Bauer and William Bauer; and four sisters, Evelyn Nelson, Sandra Zidarich, Carol (Daniel) Goral and Delores (Jim) Grevan.

He was preceded in death by one son, Kenneth, Jr.; one brother, Leonard Bauer; and two sisters, Helen Campisi and Beverly Heckelsmiller.

Kenneth was a member of the Triumph Methodist Church and the Troy Grove Grange. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957-1960, stationed in Alaska. He worked at the Troy Grove sand companies, owned and operated the Old Triumph Inn in Triumph for 10 years and owned his own backhoe service for 20 years. He built several houses and owned and managed a number of rental properties for 30 years. He retired from Manley Bros. in Troy Grove.

Memorials may be directed to the Triumph Methodist Church or the donor’s choice.