Erwin Arnold Bauder

Mr. Erwin Arnold Bauder, 85, of Ellaville passed away at Phoebe-Sumter Medical Center on September 9, 2021.  A celebration of life will be held Sunday, September 12, 2021 at The Pizza Place in Ellaville from 2:00 – 4:00PM.  Due to COVID-19 it is highly recommended that masks be worn. 

            Mr. Bauder was born July 8, 1936 to Jacob and Caroline Mertz Bauder.  He was born the youngest of 13 children and raised in the small community of McLaughlin in South Dakota.  Mr. Bauder always carried a love for small towns. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force before taking a position with Caterpillar, where he would retire after many years of service and move to Americus. He ran his own seamless gutter business before purchasing The Pizza Place in Ellaville in 2004.  Upon purchasing The Pizza Place, he and his wife would lovingly become known as “Grandpa and Grandma” for all of the surrounding area.  His sense of pride for his community was always showing in everything he did. 

            Survivors include his wife, Janiece Bauder of Americus, GA; three daughters, Brenda Burns (Terry Rigsby) of Ellaville, GA, JoDee Haffner (Alan) of Castro Valley, CA, and Rochelle Ozment (Joel) of Rockmart, GA; a brother, Harvey Bauder of McLaughlin, SD; a sister, Bernice Record of Murrieta, CA; four grandchildren, Joey Stephens (Kelly Roland), Jeremy Stephens (Ami), Cason Haffner, and Rebecca Royal (Zack); two great-grandchildren, Avery Stephens and Elijah Royal; and several nieces and nephews.

            In lieu of flowers, the family asks that in remembrance of Mr. Bauder, that you support local businesses in our area by using their products or services. 

You may sign the online guest book and share your own special thoughts and memories with the family by visiting Way-Watson Funeral Home’s website at www.waywatson.com