Robert "Bob" Arthur Bauman

Robert A. "Bob" Bauman, age 83, Clark, died with family at his side in the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls on Wednesday night, November 2, 2016 after a brief illness. Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 6, 2016 from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and will continue after 9AM at the Church in Clark.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 7, 2016 at 10:30 AM in the Plymouth United Congregational Church at Clark with Pastor Fawn Lamb officiating.  The organist will be Betsy Kolden and pianist will be Kathy Weber. Special music will be by Greg Furness accompanied by Dorothy Fuller. All of his grandchildren will be casketbearers with the honorary casketbearers being Bud & Margie Johnson, Everett and Erlene Hanson, Kenny and Harriett Nordhus, and the Jerry Jacobsen family. Burial with full military honors provided the Cagley-Smith American Legion Post #60 of Clark and the Ellsworth Air Force Base Funeral Honor Guard will be in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark.

He was born Robert Arthur Bauman on November 17, 1932 at Clark, the son of Arthur and Lillie (Krapp) Bauman. He attended rural schools in Clark County including Day #16 and then graduated from Clark High School in 1950. While in high school he served as the President of the State FFA organization in 1950-1951.

He was farming with his father from May 1950 until August of 1952 when he enlisted into the United States Air Force and served his country honorably until August 12, 1956. His rank was SSgt, stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Rapid City and served 2 years in the Far East in Nagoya, Japan.

On May 27, 1956 he was united in marriage to Alma Warkenthien. Following his discharge, Bob and Alma lived and farmed in Elrod Township until 1977. In January of 1977 he became the business manager for the Clark School District and worked in that position until July of 1998. He also had served on the Clark School Board of Education from July of 1968 until July of 1977.

In the community, beside the School Board, he also was a member of the board of the Lake Area Multi-District that formed the Vocational School for Secondary students in Watertown and surrounding schools.

He was a lifelong member of the Plymouth Congregational (UCC) Church in Clark where he had served as Treasurer, on the Board of Trustees, a Deacon, and was a Moderator for 14 years. He also had taught Sunday school and had served for several years on the South Dakota United Church of Christ Committee on Ministry. He was a Paid Up For Life member of the Cagley-Smith American Legion Post #60 at Clark and a member of the Nagoya-Komaki Air Base Reunion (5th AF) Association. As a member of the Legion, he served as Commander, Finance Officer, Adjutant, Athletic Officer, and Firing Squad Commander for many years. Bob was a member of the Clark Lions Club where he served as secretary. While serving as business manager at the school he was a member of the School Administrators of South Dakota, Eastern Lake Area Business Officials, and the South Dakota Association of School Business Officials. Bob has also served Clark County as an interim County Commissioner.

As the Legion Athletic Officer, he worked closely with the American Legion Baseball Program, attending all local events and traveling to all of the away events as well. Bob also operated the clock at the high school for wrestling matches over many years.

Even with all of the organizations he was involved in, Bob still found time for bowling, obtaining the 7-10 Award! For several years he has really enjoyed woodworking (made a lot of sawdust!), caring for their yard, flower gardening with his wife Alma, and watching the grandchildren in all of their activities.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a sister, Helen (Harvey) Smette.

Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife of over 60 years, Alma of Clark, children, DuWayne (Kim) of Liberty, MO, Joan (Rod) Steffens of Lenexa, KS, Carol (Scott) Hanson of Owatonna, MN and LeAnn (Dave) Schneider of Sioux Falls; 8 grandchildren, Haley & Talon Bauman, Theresa (Ryan) Murphy, Jennifer (Matt) Roecker, David (Jackie) Hanson, Ashley Hanson, and Thomas and Michael Schneider; 6 great-grandchildren, Katelyn, Kelsey, Lucas, Kamryn, Nora, & Kai. He also leaves several nieces and nephews.

Memorials are preferred to the Plymouth Congregational (UCC) Church, the Cagley-Smith Post#60 American Legion of Clark or the Clark Lions Club.

Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com