Gene Keith Bauer, 89, of Wilford, near St. Anthony, ID, passed away at home where he was determined to stay from his birth to his death.

He was the second child of Henry L. Bauer and Mary Florence Birch. His family predecessors originally immigrated from Colony Frank, Russia, and Britain. He was extremely proud of his German heritage.

He was born on December 2, 1926 and his birthplace was where he passed, just as he and his wife both did as they planned. As a child, he attended school in Wilford and Sugar City.

At 17, he was drafted into the Army during World War II and made multiple trips across the Pacific to Tokyo, and back through Panama.

On October 7, 1947, he married Reba Farrimond in St. Anthony. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They spent their entire lives at the same place Gene was born, having 4 children, Max Jeffrey Bauer, Brad Bauer, Debra Marie Bauer, and Kevin Stacey Bauer.

He farmed with his father, uncles, and other family on land above the Teton Canyon, Canyon Creek, Wilford, and the White Owl area. He worked at the St. Anthony Flour Mill, then later for the US Forest Service. In the Fall and Winter, he worked as a supervisor at Basic American Potato. His favorite place to be was always White Owl.

As his parents aged, he spent a lot of time caring for them and taking them back and forth to their Arizona home. He strongly supported Jeff and Stacey on foreign missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He loved to host family picnics and dinners at his home.

He is survived by his sons and daughter, Max Jeffrey (Willa) Bauer of Winston Salem, NC; Bradley Gene Bauer of Sugar City, ID; Debbie (Jeff) Buster of St. Anthony, ID; and Kevin Stacey (Julie) Bauer of Rexburg, ID; 3 sisters, Coleen Gould and Anette Olsen of Teton, ID; and Karen Severe of Pendleton, OR; 16 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, James Wesley, a sister, Beverly Bishop, and a great grandson, Tejay Cikaitoga.

Funeral Services will be Monday, November 14 at 11:00 am. at the Wilford LDS Church. The family will receive friends Monday from 10:00 am until 10:45 a.m. at the Church. Burial will be in the Wilford Cemetery with military honors. Arrangements are through Bert Flamm Mortuary.