Charles James Bauder

BROWNSVILLE, TX. - Charles James Bauder, 80, of Brownsville, Texas passed away at home on Sunday, the 28th of November 2021 after a challenging battle with cancer.

Charlie was born on the 24th of June 1941, to Jacob and Emma (Albrandt) Bauder in Sterling, Colorado at the Busse Hospital. He attended primary school at Harding School through the 8th grade. After graduating from Sterling High School in 1959, he landed his first job as a supervisor for H&B Construction for four years - despite his future mother-in-law’s suggestion that Montgomery Wards was hiring a salesman.

He met the love of his life in 1958, Sylvia Werner. They were wed on 20th of March 1960 and had two children, Jamie and Jody. Charlie spent three and a half years as a private in the U.S Army Reserve, being honorably discharged on the 30th of June 1967.

Charlie was a force of nature and a hard worker, determined to provide for his family. In 1964, he started a twenty-seven year career with Bethlehem Steel Company, primarily in sales. Throughout his life he was quite the entrepreneur, owning numerous businesses: Charley’s Vending Service, Charley’s Oilfield Service, and Charley’s Chipper. His mantra to his children was “Work hard and play hard.” He instilled a strong work ethic both in his children and grandchildren.

Charlie enjoyed fishing, camping, Texas Hold’em poker, and retirement. In 2010, Sylvia and Charlie began to spend their winters in Brownsville, Texas eventually moving there full-time in 2017. He was a member of The Table at Los Fresnos Lutheran Church.

Charlie was also a passionate fan of NASCAR and attended races often. In his younger years, he raced go-carts and stock cars. Many law enforcement officers can attest to his need for speed.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Jacob and Emma Bauder; and by his in-laws, Albert and Clara Werner. He is survived by his wife of sixty-one years, Sylvia Werner Bauder; daughters, Jamie (Tracey) Knox and Jody (Mark) Holland; grandchildren, Sarah (Randy) Yates and CJ Bauder; and siblings Jerry Bauder, Larry Bauder, and Sharon (Bauder) Wilson.

A Celebration of Life Service with military honors will be held on the 22nd of January 2022 at eleven o’clock in the morning within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. This service will be livestreamed and recorded for viewing. This video may be accessed by visiting his obituary tribute page at www.darlingmouser.com.

In lieu of floral arrangements and customary remembrances, the family requests that memorial donations be made in memory of Charlie to The Table at Los Fresnos Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 1852, Los Fresnos, Texas 78566.

If you wish to send correspondences to Sylvia, you may forward to care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home.

Personalized funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.