Donald "Don" R. Bauer, age 90, a lifelong resident of Manitowoc, entered into eternal life peacefully with loving family members present early on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Aurora Medical Center in Two Rivers.

Don was born on January 4, 1928 in Manitowoc.  He was the son of the late Reinhart and Melania (Hoffman) Bauer.  Don was a graduate of Lincoln High School with the class of 1946.  On September 17, 1949, he married Arline T. Backus in Manitowoc.  She preceded him in death on February 24, 2013.  Don devoted his entire working career with Mirro Aluminum Company and Newell Inc. where he made many lifelong friends.

Don was a gentleman and conversationalist always ready and willing to volunteer and be helpful to family, friends, neighbors, and the church and organizations he believed in.  He was an avid sportsman and outdoorsman being a charter member of the local Fish and Game Association.  Don was very active in the Lakeshore Snowmobile Club and was very involved in grooming the trails and the group sponsored highway clean up program.  He was an ardent Packers and Badgers fan, and had a special charisma that enabled him to make all things fun.  Don most loved to travel and spend time with his family and the love of his life, Arline.

Don was a loving and devoted husband and father, grandfather, great grandfather and father-in-law.  He is survived by four of his six children, Christine (Jerry) Zinkel, Manitowoc; Jeanne Kucera, Manitowoc; Tom (Mary Anne) Bauer, Erin; Jim (Allison) Bauer, Cincinnati, OH; 19 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; also David's life partner, Lorie Reilly, Westminster, CA; other relatives and friends.  Don was preceded in death by his parents, Reinhart and Melania Bauer; two sons, John Bauer and David Bauer.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church on Waldo – 1121 North 14 ^th Street, Manitowoc.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Rev. Dave Pleier with cremation to take place at a later date with entombment at Calvary Mausoleum, Manitowoc.  The family will greet relatives and friends at the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home on Friday, March 9, 2018 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.  The visitation will conclude with a prayer service led by Deacon Bob Beehner at 7 p.m.  The visitation will continue on Saturday at St. Francis of Assisi on Waldo from 10 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11 a.m.  Following the funeral service, there will be a continued celebration of Don's life with a luncheon at the Harrigan Parkside Gathering Center located on the south property of the Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home.  Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.harriganparksidefuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers a memorial fund is being established in Don's name.

The Harrigan Parkside Funeral Home and Crematory, North 11 ^th and St. Clair streets, Manitowoc is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.