Thomas Dee Bauermeister

Thomas Dee Bauermeister , 75, of Fort Wayne, passed away Tuesday, July 24, 2018 at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne, Indiana after a courageous battle with cancer.

He was born on May 22, 1943 in Fort Wayne, the son of the late Arthur Bauermeister and the late Hilda (Doehrman) Bauermeister. He married Sandra Lepper on November 4, 1962 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Soest in Fort Wayne and she survives.

He served his country in the United States Air Force from 1961 to 1965.

Tom was a graduate of Reppert's Auction School in 1959 and Hoagland High School in 1961. In 1969, Tom received his real estate license and in 1975 he received his broker's license. In 1988, he graduated from Certified Auctioneer's Institute and followed that up with Certified Estate Specialist's Classes in 2003 and Personal Property Appraiser's Courses in 2004. He retired in 2016 with 56 years of service as an auctioneer and 46 years as a real estate salesman.

Tom was a member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Soest in Fort Wayne. He was also a member of the National Auctioneer's Association and Auction Marketing Institute. In addition, he was a member of the Indiana Auctioneer's Association where he served as the Indiana State Director from 1993 to 1995 and as president in 1999. He was inducted into the Indiana Auctioneer's Hall of Fame in 2002. Being active and supportive of others was important to Tom. He was a 40 year member of the Heritage Lions Club in Hoagland whose mission is helping others.

Tom enjoyed antiques, history, & traveling

Survivors include his wife, Sandy Bauermeister of Fort Wayne; two daughters, Denise (Rodney) Vanlaningham of Columbia City and Lori Matter of Fort Wayne; six grandchildren, Conner & Leah Mills of Columbia City, and Oscar, Hildie, Henry & Arthur Matter of Fort Wayne.

He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Michael Matter in June of 2017 and a brother, Robert Bauermeister.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 30, 2018 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Soest located at 9909 Wayne Trace in Fort Wayne with Pastor Josef Henning officiating. Interment will follow in the Emmanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Soest.

Friends will be received from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, July 29, 2018 in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Soest and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the church prior to services.

In lieu of flowers, Tom's family would request that memorials be directed toward the following organizations: Emmanuel Lutheran Church Stained Glass Fund; Worship Anew; or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home.