Dr. Jon Thomas Bauer

Dr. Jon Thomas Bauer, the son of George Allen and Marlene Faye (Rubel) Bauer, was born January 21, 1963, in Manning, Iowa and died January 21, 2022, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 59 years.
When the children were young their mother, Marlene, married Frank Derby who stepped into the fatherhood role. Jon was baptized at the Exira Christian Church. He attended the Exira Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1981. Jon moved to Chicago, Illinois where his sister Joni lived for a time then later, they moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts but soon returned to Exira to help care for his mother. Jon worked at Larsen Ford and various other jobs in Exira. He met his future wife while working as a bartender at Jerry’s Joint.
On September 7, 1985, he was united in marriage to Pota Hagen at the Exira Christian Church. They were parents of Jessica, Amanda and Alexandrhea. Jon worked construction for several years then was employed at the Hardware store in Exira. He later farrowed hogs for several years. Jon was an avid outdoors man and loved hunting and fishing. In 1992 Jon fell from a tree stand while hunting deer. The fall paralyzed him from the chest down. He was in the hospital in Iowa City for several months and then went to Younker’s Rehabilitation in Des Moines, Iowa. While in Younkers their daughter Amanda was diagnosed with cancer Jon and Pota cared for Amanda with an immense love until it was time for her to be called home to the other side in March of 1994.
Jon attended the Des Moines Area Community College in Carroll, Iowa where he received his Associate Degree. He then studied at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa and received his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Jon then attended the Forest Institute of Professional Psychology in Springfield, Missouri where he received his Master’s degree and Doctorate in Psychology. He did his internship and residency in Springfield then accepted his first position at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Marshalltown, Iowa a short while. He left the V.A. to continue helping better himself moving to Grass Valley, California where he lived with his sister Joni for a few years. Then returned to Iowa where he lived in Anita and worked for an online company doing therapy for a short time. Jon returned to Exira and worked for Southwest Mental Health along with developing his own practice. Following an extended hospital stay, Jon returned to Exira and opened his own private practice. Jon was very pleased that he was finally able to complete his building for his practice. He continued helping others fulfilling his divine God given purpose here on earth.
Jon was a member if the Exira Christian Church and served as an Elder. When he was younger, he spent many hours on the family farm. He loved being outdoors. But his passion was spending time with his family especially with his grandchildren. He loved watching Michael Jordan in his prime play for the Chicago Bulls and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye Fan. He loved jamming out to music, riding his bike and laughing with those he loves.
Preceding Jon in death was his daughter Amanda Bauer; his parents, father George Allen Bauer; his sister Joni Bauer; his aunts and uncles: Don and Juline Rubel, Raymond “Swede” and Carol Johnson, Terry Derby, and Charles Derby; his cousin and other relatives: Brian “Swede” Johnson, Shannon Wheeler, Brad Johnson, and Tom Johnson
Survivors include his daughter Alexandrhea Bauer and Travis Sandbothe both of Atlantic, his grandchildren: Slade, Morrison, Izziah and Iyla Sandbothe all of Atlantic, Iowa; his sister-in-law Sandy Bauer of Exira, Iowa; his nephew Jeffrey Bauer Jr. and his wife and daughter of Des Moines, Iowa; his aunts and uncles Joyce and Richard Jorgensen of Exira, Iowa, Tom and Pam Rubel of Ankeny, Iowa, Roger and Kathy Bauer of Albuquerque, New Mexico; his cousins Becky and Don Akers and Bruce and Lermes Johnson all of Exira, Iowa, Debra and Scott Peppers of Atlantic, Iowa, LuAnn and Brice Watson of East Peoria, Illinois, Chad Jorgensen of Exira, Iowa, Nikole and Brad Welch of Norwalk, Iowa, BreeAnn and Todd Hayworth of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Ty Rubel of Des Moines, Iowa; other relatives and many friends.