Herman "Herm" Louis Bauer, Jr.

I love you, a barrel and a heap,

a barrel and a heap,

and a ride in Bascomb Jeep!

That was our song -- and will be forever in my heart.

Julie

It had been a few years since I had the chance to see Grandpa Herm and Grandma Lil, but the experiences I had hanging out at the Pisto's house next door when I was younger are still very vivid for me. The Pisto's served as a continuation of our family from the day I was born and that extended to Herm and Lil as well. When they came to visit it was like having another set of grandparents who really just came to see and play with us (Kirsten, Tony, Katie (my sister) and me. We spent hours doing various activities, mostly wrestling and rough housing and Herm was there the whole time with us; egging us on, showing us something new and fun or just watching with joy in his heart and a big smile on his face.

I had/have all the love and support that I could ever need and the Pisto/Bauer family are a big part of that. When I heard Herm and Lil we're coming to visit I would light up as if it were my family coming to town. While I'm saddened for the loss of such a tremendous human being, I still can't hep but smile because of everything he was to everyone he came in contact with.

My favorite Aunt, Lil Bauer, happens to be married to my favorite Uncle, Herm Bauer. My mother, Rosa, one of Lil's two sisters (eldest of the three) made sure my twin brother and I had some quality exposure to my Uncle Herm the Bauer clan for which I am forever grateful for many reasons. Uncle Herm was for my bother & I a shining example of what a truly good man is...he was a touchstone (when we needed one) for what a great parental father figure should be, and my Mother knew this. Not only that, but as a kid he would send me a bunch of amazing rocks, and he laughed with us when we kids found an (excellent) drawing of naked woman in one of his old yearbooks! The jeep rides, his geological lore, his patience & kindness...even when the gun I was carrying (properly with his guidance) accidentally fired into the clouds during a hunting hike. I'm gonna miss seeing him.

I knew Uncle Herm my entire life since I was born on his 20th birthday...76 years ago today...February 20th. I am one of the most fortunate people because I shared with him many wonderful times together besides our birthday celebrations. Just to name a few that have come flooding back recently are our trips in Bascom, his Jeep, up Bascom Hill, visits to Ruth, Nevada, great times at Wild Goose for family parties and an overnight, his visits while I was a patient at the Shriner’s Hospital, climbing the spiral staircase at his home on U Street, and most recently Bill and my fabulous chats in his living room with him and Aunt Lil. His love of life, care and loving of others will be with me forever. I love you Uncle Herm! Happy Birthday!

Uncle Herm, to you I owe a rich appreciation for the earth (he knew more about it than most), for family (and what an amazing one it is) and Shirley Temples (without the cherry, thank you!). The memories are endless and I am eternally grateful. Love you!

Heard so about you from your greatest fan, Julie Pisto. I was thrilled to finally meet you and Lil at the Pisto mansion and had a delightful holiday dinner with the family. Wishing you good will and joy as you continue on your journey, Herm, far from Earth.

I first met Herm & Lil in about 2001, when they generously hosted Laird, my brother-in-law, and me at their SLC home for a ski trip. I was delighted by Herm’s stories of how he met Lil as a result of his own skiing accident as a young man, his lifelong love of geology, and tales of family fishing exploits at the Wild Goose Ranch. One of the many highlights of our stay was the bountiful breakfast Lil prepared for us of Danish “ebilskivers,” (delightful puff pancakes with powdered sugar) prepared in a heavy cast iron specialty skillet. Herm & Lil got a big kick out of the fact that my Chinese American mother had her own ebilskiver pan and experimented with the Danish delicacy in my childhood. I inherited my mother’s pan and this weekend I will cook up a large batch of ebilskivers as a tribute to Herm! I do mean a “large batch” because Lil proved that once you start cooking up ebilskivers they disappear as quickly as they pop out of the skillet. Peace to you, Herm. Love to the family.

Thank you to everyone who has left a memory and a message, we're so grateful for your friendship and love.

My grandfather, like many grandfathers of that greatest generation, seemed to be built from another time, heroic, able to overcome and withstand, to improve his world, to always do the right thing. Of course he was also just a kid from Utah, curious enough to find the world full of answers that needed questions, lucky enough to crash land on a ski hill to eventually meet the love of his life and raise a family who loved him right back with all our hearts.

He lived every day, truly. He appreciated the pines and listened to the raptors, but evenings didn’t stop until things were finished and put away. In between these deliberate moments was a person who cherished his family and lifelong friends. He taught his grandchildren to believe in ghosts, to hide behind sagebrush and scare the holy hell out of each other. He grew us tomatoes and put fresh berries on our ice cream. He urged us to think big picture while we marveled at small examples of planet Earth. He taught us to not just appreciate the beauty of nature, but to look closely— bestowing a deep and forever love of wild places and landscapes.

Although there are many ways to describe him… physical strength, hardiness, luster for life, lots of soft streaks, the way he seemed to pull towards greatness like gravity and of course tenacity… my grandfather would have reminded me that those are just characteristics of minerals. Characteristics are just ways to measure something and some things are immeasurable.

Heartbreak is a funny thing. There is a gemstone on our mantle that my grandpa gave us last time we were in Utah. When I picked it up the other day I cried as hard as a 9 on Mohs’ hardness scale although this particular rock registers as a 5.5. It’s shiny and black with silver and white flakes. It’s smooth, it has luster and for the life of me I have no clue what it is… until I remember to turn it over and I see his handwritten note labeling it… of course it’s snowflake obsidian. So maybe the lesson here is to always turn over your rocks.

He left us with the knowledge that we don’t know everything. I understand that there is energy in the making of these treasures… and I can’t help but think some of that is him.

Love you Grandpa Herm, thank you for being the best for us.

Dear Lillian and Family, Lillian, we first met at Sough High School and then lost track of each other until we met again in Newcomers about 1999. I so enjoyed our time in Book Club, those wonderful times at your cabin. You and Herm were such great hosts. I guess you and I are about the only ones left in our 90's. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

Till we meet again, Luana Chapman

Uncle Herm. Where to begin? Looking at the pictures, I hear his jovial laugh. Because of him, I know where to find garnets and pine nuts. When my dad couldn’t, Uncle Herm walked me down the aisle. And of course, rattlesnakes—real and “pretend.” Rest In Peace, Uncle Herm. You are so missed, by so many. Thanks for the memories and lifetime of love.

Wishing Herm peace, well earned after a joyful life that was certainly lived to the fullest. As proven by these delightful stories, and the way his zest for living lives on in the beautiful and loving family he and Lil built together. I had the pleasure of enjoying one of their family treasures, their warm and serene cabin up in the Utah woodlands. Once for an adventurous week with daughter Julie and friends. And again for the wedding of one's dreams with granddaughter Kirstin, where it was an honor to be welcomed like family by Herm as he proudly celebrated that magical milestone. You remain an inspiration, Herm. These memories from you and your generation are a treasure to forever hold in a special place, deep in our hearts. Thank you.

Wonderful memories of flying from Tacoma Washington to SLC with the Ski Babes. We stayed several days in the cabin, skied, hiked, assembled jigsaw puzzles. Shared stories of western mining history with Herman since my dad was a mining engineer of the same era. What a role model our dads were.

....will always remember his direct communication skills, his kindness, and warmth… he turned me on to the world of minerals and still have rock specimens he educated me about it… a ton of love to the family

My deepest condolences to the entire family... Herm was bigger than life with a wonderful twinkle in his eyes! Once you met Herm, you felt like you have known him your whole life. A wonderful host who happily share his cabin with friends, family, and friends of family! I was so lucky to visit several times, spending time with the Bauer’s in the land they loved! As I shared with Julie, my favorite memory of Herm is at his Granddaughter’s wedding at the cabin, dancing many dances with cutest little flower girl ever! Their connection was real, both charming the other, we simply got to enjoy the show! May you rest in internal peace Herm, it was an honor and privilege to know you.