Joni Faye Bauer

Joni Faye Bauer, the daughter of George Alan Bauer, Jr. and Marlene F. (Rubel) Bauer, was born June 5, 1961, in Manning, Iowa and died March 11, 2018, at her home in Exira, Iowa at the age of 56 years, 9 months, and 6 days.

When the children were young their mother, Marlene, married Frank Derby and he helped raise the children. Joni was baptized at the Exira Christian Church in Exira, Iowa. She attended the Exira Community Schools where she participated in sports and also was a cheerleader. Joni graduated with the High School Class of 1979 then studied at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, Missouri and received an Associate Degree in Child Development. Joni moved to Chicago, Illinois and was employed as a waitress for several years. She relocated to Aspen, Colorado and taught at the Little Lamb pre-school and also waitressed part-time and managed the Aspen Athletic Club for nearly twenty years. Joni then lived in several locations including Canada, Oregon, and northern California before settling in Exira, Iowa in January of 2014.

Joni was a member of the Exira Christian Church in Exira. While growing up she was a Rainbow girl and was involved in Dance Class. Joni loved being outdoors. She enjoyed hiking, skiing, and riding her bicycle. But above all she enjoyed spending time with her family especially her nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death was her father George Alan Bauer, Jr,; her mother Marlene Derby; and her step-father Frank Derby; her niece Amanda Bauer; her aunt and uncles: Don and Juline Rubel, Raymond “Swede” and Carol Johnson, Terry Derby, and Charles Derby; her cousins and other relatives: Brian “Swede” Johnson, Shannon Wheeler, Brad Johnson, and Tom Johnson.

Survivors include her brothers Jeff and wife Sandy Bauer and Jon Bauer all of Exira, Iowa; her niece and nephew Alexandrhea Bauer and companion Travis Sandbothe of Atlantic, Iowa and Jeffrey Bauer, Jr of Stuart, Iowa; her great nieces and great nephews: Slade Sandbothe, Morrison Sandbothe, Izziah Sandbothe and, Iyla Sandbothe all of Atlantic, Iowa; her aunts and uncles Joyce and husband Richard Jorgensen, Tom and wife Pam Rubel of Ankeny, Iowa and Roger and wife Kathy Bauer of Albuquerque, New Mexico; her cousins Becky and husband Don Akers, Bruce and wife Lermes, Johnson all of Exira, Iowa, Debra and husband Scott Peppers of Atlantic, Iowa, LuAnn and husband Brice Watson of East Peoria, Illinois, Chad Jorgensen of Exira, Iowa, Nikole and husband Brad Welch of Norwalk, Iowa, BreeAnn and husband Todd Hayworth of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Ty Rubel of Des Moines, Iowa; her special companions “Elie Belle” Exira and David Lowellen of Oregon; other relatives and many friends.

A Celebration of Life Gathering will be conducted by Pastor Glen Meyers on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. on the lower level of the Exira Christian Church in Exira, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers will be: Travis, Morrison, Izziah, and Slade Sandbothe, Jeffrey Bauer, Jr., the Exira Fire Department, Craig “Bub” and Jan Sorensen, Angela Immel, Brandon Akers, Susie Simpson, Bruce Johnson, and Chad Jorgensen.