Roland “Rollie” D. Bauman, 86, Burlington, died Nov. 16, 2012, at the Waterford Senior Living Center.
He was born July 3, 1926, in Burlington, to the late John and Martha (Hoffman) Bauman. He had been a lifetime resident of Burlington and a graduate of Burlington High School.
He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1945 until 1946.
On Feb. 25, 1950, he married Betty Jean Riek. He had worked as a foreman for Brass Works and was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church. He was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, the Town of Burlington Fire Department and the WIAA. For many years he coached Little League as well as umpiring and was honored in the Burlington Little League Hall of Fame. He also coached girl’s softball and was a referee for basketball. He received the Humanitarian Award from the Burlington Rotary Club and in June of 2003 received The LeRoy Clark Meritorious Service Award to Little League Baseball. The practice facility at the Maryland Field is named after Rollie.
Along with his accomplishments, he received a Lifetime Firefighter Achievement Award from the state of Wisconsin.
His hobbies included playing cards, riding his bike and running.
Survivors include his wife; children, Georgianna (Jim) Schuch, Burlington, Gregory (Kathy Bandstra) Bauman, Racine, Charles (Pamela) Bauman, Sammamish, Wash., Tracy (Gregory) Pioppi, Easton, Pa., John (Kimberly) Bauman, Barneveld and Todd (Gaye) Bauman, Burlington; grandchildren, Markus Schuch, Brett Bauman, Nicola (Ira) Hill, Joseph Pioppi, Alexia Pioppi, Kassandra Bauman, Zachary Bauman; great-grandchildren, Hayden and Isabella Schuch; a sister, Shirley Meinke, Twin Lakes; sisters-in-law, Rose, Myrtle and Gloria Bauman; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.
He was further preceded in death by brothers, Frank, Robert, Phil, Eugene; two infant brothers; brother-in-law, William Meinke; sisters-in-law, Florence and Mary.
Visitation is Friday, Nov. 23, from 2-6:30 p.m. with funeral services at 7 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 198 Westridge Ave., Burlington. The Rev. Kirk Lahmann will officiate. Burial will be in Southern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date.
In Lieu of flowers memorials to Allay Home & Hospice, the Burlington Little League or to a charity of your choice are suggested.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the staff at Allay Home & Hospice and to the Waterford Senior Living-Memory Care Unit for all their care and compassion they gave to Rollie.
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A true Burlington institution. Rollie, you will be sorely missed, remembered with every crack of the bat.
Tons of respect for this man. He defines “volunteer”. Good heart & good man. Condolences to the family. R.I.P. Rollie,you made a differance in alot of lives.
How I loved watching Rolly riding his bicycle and loved how he put the rubber bands around his sweat pant legs. I had the great fortune to hear his wonderful baseball stories, his time with kids and his face just lit up talking about them. If only we could multiply Rollie 10,000 fold. Burlington lost one of the best people I ever met in Burlington. I truly hope he will be remembered with every crack of the bat. Every thing he did was from his heart and with love. He didn’t have a mean spirited word to say about anyone. His work here was done and there just must be a baseball team in heaven that needed him more.