J. Conrad Bauer

Jacob Conrad Bauer died on November 9, 2018, at his home in Wray, CO. He was 77. Conrad was born
on February 6, 1941, in Sterling, CO, to his parents, Jacob and Vivian (Pate) Bauer. He was the oldest of
two children, followed by younger sister, Nancy. They grew up on a farm near Iliff, CO. Conrad
graduated from Iliff High School in 1959. He attended Denver University, pursuing a degree in
accounting. He found that he missed farming so badly, however, that he returned to the family farm. He
was a third generation sugar beet farmer, receiving a high sugar beet grower award for two years. He
was also awarded the Logan County Young Farmer award early in his farming career. Conrad met his
future bride, Ruth Dreyer, on a blind date at a baseball game in Sterling, CO, in 1964. They were married
in Chadron, NE, on June 25, 1967. They started their life together in Iliff, and a year later were given an
opportunity to farm at Rushville, NE. Conrad not only loved farming, but he also had a passion for
marketing. He developed a hay cubing operation to add value to his alfalfa and grain crops. He also sold
Cargill seeds and won several outstanding salesman awards. Four children were born to Conrad and
Ruth while they lived in Nebraska: Kristin, Tricia, Douglas, and David. In 1984, Conrad, Ruth, and family
moved to Wray, CO, where he pursued a career in irrigation and water management with the Y-W Well
Testing Association. In 2002, he was awarded by the Colorado State Conservation Board for his
dedication to the preservation of the Ogallala Aquifer and the conservation of energy. He felt an urgency
teaching people about water conservation. He “retired” later in 2002 and began his own well testing
business with Ruth. He sold the business to fully retire in 2015. Conrad had a number of pastimes over
the years, mostly relating to farming and family. He grew large, sweet onions in the garden for several
summers and sold them at farmer’s market. He also helped Ruth tend the apple trees on their place and
would pick bushels and bushels of apples each fall. He was a regular attender at his kids and grandkids
school and sporting events, and always encouraged them in their endeavors. He was especially proud of
his family and loved to share their achievements. He loved to travel and made a lot of trips to see family,
including to Scotland, Brunei, New Orleans, Montana, Hawaii and Utah. Through his Cargill seed sales,
he won trips to the Bahamas, Mexico City, and Jamaica, and a number of places in the U.S. He loved
playing fast-pitch softball in his younger days and was an avid Rockies fan. He sang in community choirs
and also participated in several community musicals. He liked fishing and driving around the countryside
looking at the scenery—mostly farmers’ crops. The most important part of his life was his faith. He made
sure that his family attended church regularly, and he prayed for his kids and grandkids daily. He played
an active role in his church wherever he lived, being on the church council and various committees and
singing in the church choir. He went on a Mission Opportunity Short Term mission trip to Guatemala
with a group from his church to install water filters in the village of Lemones. His family is sure that
Conrad is now comfortably resting in heaven with Jesus and awaiting the day when his family will join
him. Conrad was preceded in death by his father, Jake Bauer; his mother, Vivian (Pate) Bauer; mother-in-law, Blanche Dreyer; father-in-law, Paul Dreyer; and sister-in-law, Myra Dreyer. He is survived by his
wife, Ruth; his daughters, Kristin (Kris) Ganoung and Tricia (Jim) Baird; his sons, Douglas (Jessica) Bauer
and David (Sabine) Bauer; and grandchildren, Isaac and Miriam Ganoung, Maleigha and Caeden Bauer,
Katrina, Gregor, and Fiona Baird, and Luca and Reece Bauer; his sister, Nancy (Gary) Nolin; and
brother-in-law Donald (Leslie) Dreyer.

Viewing/Visitation will be held on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, 8:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m. at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home in Wray, Colorado. Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray, Colorado with Pastor Tim Davis officiating. Interment will take place at the Pine Knoll Cemetery in Hays Springs, Nebraska on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 ~ 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Tim Davis officiating. Memorials maybe made to the Lutheran Hour Ministries, 518 Dexter Street, Wray, Colorado 80758. Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.