Robert Otto Bauer collection

Robert Otto Bauer was born on April 20, 1923, in Wyandotte, MI to Otto and Frances Bauer. During his youth, Bauer developed an interest in music and played the tuba in the MacKenzie High School Band. Bauer entered active duty in the U.S. Army on March 11, 1943, with his military occupational specialty entered as "Bandsman Tuba." His playing time with the 100th Infantry Division Band was interrupted by an appendectomy and a serious reaction to penicillin. While Bob was recovering, his fellow bandsmen shipped out to Europe in late 1944.

Upon his hospital release, Bauer was reassigned to Company C, 8th Armored Infantry Battalion as an infantryman with the 20th Armored Division which was formed at Camp Campbell, KY in March 1943. The division arrived at Le Harve, France on February 18, 1945. The division experienced their first combat during April 1945 in Germany. The division participated in liberating Dachau Concentration Camp near Munich on April 29, 1945. Bauer was discharged on February 18, 1945.

After the war, he returned to Michigan and met his future wife, Joyce Ann. Their fifty-five-year marriage ended with Joyce's death in December 2002. They raised two sons, Robert O., Jr. and William C. Moving to Gainesville, FL in 1948, Bauer entered the University of Florida and served as student band manager for the University. In addition to band activities, he served with the President's Cabinet and the Florida Blue Key. After graduation, Bauer entered the business world. He served as President of the Delaney Park Little League and as an active member of his son's PTA's and athletic organizations. He and Joyce moved to St. Cloud in 1970, co-founding Maribou Corporation with his sister, Jayne, and brother-in-law, George Marinoff. He found deep satisfaction in constructing houses and later finding homes for families as a realtor for M & N Realty.

Bauer was very active in the community, serving three terms as a St. Cloud City Councilman and briefly as deputy mayor. Together with Joyce, he volunteered with Meals-on-Wheels and in the Tourist Information Center. From 1986 to 1994, he served as vice-president and was a charter member of the Palomar Oaks Village Homeowners' Association. Bauer passed away on September 1, 2006, in St. Cloud, FL. He is buried at Osceola Memory Gardens Kissimmee, Osceola County, FL.

Joyce Ann Bauer, maiden name Mansfield, was born on February 2, 1921, in western Canada. She soon moved with her parents to the Detroit, Michigan area. She began making family visits to Florida in 1936, living in Pinellas County. During WWII, she worked as Administrative Assistant to the President of General Motors Truck Division with Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company. Following the war, she met and married Robert O. Bauer. Relocating to the University of Florida, Joyce served as secretary for the Music Department, while Robert was student band manager. Together they had two sons, Rob and Bill. Joyce Ann served in many voluntary positions, helping organize the first library at Lake Como Elementary, Orlando, being active in PTA and numerous other organizations. After moving to St. Cloud, FL in 1970, Joyce, with her husband volunteered at the Cancer Society, Meals-on-Wheels and Visitors Bureau. Joyce Ann passed away on December 2, 2001. Sources: "Robert Bauer." Find A Grave. Accessed May 23, 2018. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/130706474/robert-bauer. "Robert Otto Bauer Obituary." Legacy.com. Accessed May 23, 2018. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/orlandosentinel/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=19161755. "Joyce Bauer Obituary." Legacy.com. Accessed August 16, 2018. https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/orlandosentinel/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=154362