Andrew Jacob Bauer

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Bauer, Andrew Jacob Hopkins, MN. Large, gentle, mostly silent. Lover of pizza, beer and the BeeGees. A chess master who would fake you out because he never seemed to look at the board. Andrew was only 28 when he left this material world, but he was always only visiting. "A soul wrapped very loosely in a body," one of his grade school teachers said. Indeed. As his body grew, those earthly tethers loosened even more. He did much in his short life, living in Iowa, Minnesota and Rhode Island. Operating with fearless wanderlust Andrew made himself known in more than 40 states, including working for a short time on a pot farm in Oregon and taking one spur-of-the-moment road trip that landed him in the New York Times. He climbed mountains in Washington, rolled in the surf off Nag's Head, walked sacred Indian ground in the Dakotas and played chess in Harvard Square. Life here was hard for him and the legion of people who loved Andrew often wished for him to find ease and joy. His death has left us shattered but madly praying he's reached some fourth dimension with Chicago deep-dish and opponents who understand the Sicilian Defence. Special blessings for the people whose art spoke to Andrew: Billy Joel, Jerry Garcia, Don Henley and especially Robin Williams. (Mrs. Doubtfire was his spirit guide.) Andrew Bauer is survived by his brother Max and sister Leni Hitzhusen (Bill), as well as four heartbroken parents, John and Ann Gateley and Jim and Leigh Ann Bauer, grandparents Irwin and Rita Boris and John and Martha Bauer, and countless people who were touched by his goodness and wit. Service Monday, November 14, 4 p.m., at Ascension Church, 1723 Bryant Ave N, Minneapolis. Donations may be made in Andrew's name to Interact Center.

Published on November 13, 2016