Sean Bauer

Sean Edward Bauer, a longtime resident of Atchison, KS, died unexpectedly on February 9, 2025. He was born the second oldest of five children on November 7, 1964, in Bremerton, WA, the son of Daniel J. Bauer and Bonnie (Lawrence) Bauer. He attended Star of the Sea Catholic Church and School in Bremerton. While Sean was growing up, he moved several times, and has lived in California, Florida, and Spain, before moving to Kansas where he graduated summa cum laude from Benedictine College in 1986, earning a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Physics.

Sean was one of the most brilliant students in the BC Physics Department. They were fortunate to have him in their department briefly as our lab manager in 2008. Sean then assumed this position in the expanded Engineering Department Machine and Woodshop facility in 2009. He developed and greatly expanded the equipment, as well as mastered the use of all the machines, including the CNC mill. He computerized the large 16" lathe that the Physics Department received from the Abbey in 1969. He became a master machinist whom countless people turned to for help.

He was a talented musician and mastered many instruments. Sean was a devout member of St. Benedict Parish and attended Mass daily, and he participated regularly in Adoration early every Sunday morning. Sean's biggest dream was to marry and have a family, but since he never met the right person, he spent his life dedicated to defending life and the family. He joined the Secular Franciscans and has been a part of pro-life rosaries, parades and the March for Life for many years.

Sean had a wry sense of humor. Whenever you made the mistake of asking him "what's up" he would invariably reply "The direction of increasing gravitational potential". He was a physicist at heart.

Preceding Sean in death was his mother, Bonnie Bauer, Sept. 30, 2024, and his brother-in-law, Jeff Norke, Sept. 17, 2020. Among the survivors are his father, Daniel Bauer, his siblings, Gregory Bauer, Tony Bauer, Miriam Bauer Norke, and Ann Bauer MacDonnell, brother-in-law, Mike MacDonnell; and four nieces and nephews, Andrew MacDonnell, Katherine Bauer, Daniel Bauer, and Miriam MacDonnell Pittaway; nephew-in-law, Brandon Pittaway; and great-nephew, Benjamin Pittaway.

Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 10:30 am at St. Benedict Church. A rosary will begin at 10:15 am before mass. Sean will be laid to rest at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Atchison, KS. Funeral care provided by the Arensberg-Pruett Funeral Home. Memorials may be left to St. Benedict Parish or Benedictine College in his memory.