Joel Perkins Bauer

Joel Perkins Bauer passed away on August 9, 2026, at the age of 92. He lived a life full of meaning, love, and service. He was a veteran, a devoted husband, a father, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather. He was born in Cedar City, Utah, on March 25, 1934, to Joseph LeRoy and Mary Makelprang (Perkins) Bauer.

Joel was born into a hardworking sheep-ranching family. Hard work was simply life, and something to be proud of. Because of dyslexia, schoolwork was not just hard—it was nearly impossible. But doing one’s duty never was. His father was a veteran of the Great War, and during Joel’s youth his oldest brother served in the Second World War.

In 1953, Joel volunteered for service in the Korean War. Pneumonia prevented him from deploying, but as soon as he recovered, he volunteered again and served honorably. Although he enlisted during the Korean conflict, he spent his tour in the Panama Canal Zone, serving primarily as a cook. His favorite stories involved pancakes as big as a tray and the morning he had to serve sauerkraut juice—which certainly woke up a few soldiers.

Shortly after his discharge, Joel met the love of his life, Karlene Humphrey, and married her in the St. George Temple. From that moment on, he was bound to support her and the family they would build together. Despite his aversion to formal education, he supported Karlene’s pursuit of a college degree and cheered on all three of their sons (Brad, Keldon and Barry) as they went on to earn their own college degrees.

Joel was a gifted gardener, able to coax vegetables, nuts, berries, and fruit from the poorest soil in a small yard. Later in life he became an avid woodworker, making chairs, toys, hand tools, and virtually anything from wood. He also repaired small appliances and lawn mowers—both push and riding—and anything else with a small engine.

Most importantly, Joel used these gifts to bless the lives of family and friends. He gave rocking chairs, ancestral pictures in homemade frames, home-grown vegetables, and repair services to anyone who needed them. Sometimes people paid him, though never what the work was worth. Mostly he did it for the appreciation.

Joel’s sweetheart preceded him in death by nearly five lonely years. He is survived by his three sons, two daughters-in-law, five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He leaves behind a legacy of quiet service, steady devotion, and hands that were always building something good.

Those wishing to pay their respects to Joel Bauer may attend a viewing at Larkin Mortuary, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah from 6:00-8:00 PM, Monday August 17, 2026. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 18,2026, at 11:00 AM at the LDS church at 1050 Galena Drive in Sandy (with a brief viewing starting at 10:00 AM). The burial with be in the Cedar City Municipal Cemetery on the morning of August 19, 2026.