Edward Bauerlein Obituary

Edward J. Bauerlein

Feb 3, 2024

Norwalk

Edward J. "Ed" Bauerlein went home to be the Lord on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024.

He was the youngest of six children born to Charlie and Lillian Bauerlain at home in Buffalo, New York.

He attended Most Holy Redeemer Catholic Elementary School and Seneca Vocational High School. He ran track and played basketball and graduated with a certificate in electrical trades.

He served in U.S. Army from 1952-1954 as a field wireman and was a life member of West Seneca Legion Post #735.

He served for several years in leadership with Boy Scouts of America. He was finally persuaded by his three daughters to be a 4-H leader. He led the Greenhill Gang 4-H club from 1974-1979.

He joined the reserve host Fire Company in 1960 shortly after building a new home in West Seneca. He rose through the ranks from Forman to Lieutenant, Captain, and then Assistant Chief. He was elected Chief of Reserve Hose Company in 1964 and served as President of the West Seneca Fire Chief Organization.

Ed was elected by the community at large as a Fire Commissioner and served eight years. He spent eight years serving on the Fire Police. He was very proud of the East & West Road Seneca District Fire House build when he was Fire Commissioner. Its location helped to reduce response times and attracted another group of company volunteers.

He continued to be active in Reserve Hose, taking training in Officer training, Mercy Flight training, Arson Awareness, Advances Arson Investigation, and NYS EMT. He enjoyed traveling in Ohio and taking the EHOVE Heavy Rescue training with his grandsons.

In March, 2019, he was awarded the Life Time Achievement award for over 50 years of meritorious service at Reserve Hose. As recently as the summer of 2023, he was attending monthly company meetings.

Ed is survived by his wife of 68 years, Joan (Nowakowski) Bauerlein, who he married in 1956 in Buffalo, New York; daughters, Pamela (Gary) Hansberger, Laurie (Joe) Myers, and Jaquie (Steve) Wojtkowiak; son, Edward (Mindy) Bauerlein; grandsons, Charlie (Kory) Warthling, Erik Hansberger, and Bill Hansberger; granddaughters, Shannon (Derek) Bingle and Lillian (Cody) Gregory; and seven great-grandchildren.

As his service with the fire company was ending, the chaplain said he was a "good and loyal servant." His death is a loss to many.