William Lee Bauer Sr., 71, died on Friday, March 15, 2013, at Elmwood Nursing Home in Maryville, Ill. He was born in Collinsville, Ill., on Aug. 30, 1941.

Mr. Bauer graduated from Collinsville Township High School in 1959 and from the University of Illinois in 1963, wit a bachelor of science degree in accounting. He was a distinguished military graduate.

He joined the U.S. Army as a Second Lieutenant and graduated from Infantry Officer Basic Training and Airborne Training at Fort Benning, Ga. He served 18 months in Korea with the 1st Calvary Division. In Vietnam, he was an ordinance officer from 1968 to 1969 and he was awarded the Bronze Star. He served in the Army Reserves and left the military in 1976 with the rank of Major.

He worked for two years at Granite City Steel and for 25 years at Laclede Steel in Alton, Ill., as manager of production scheduling.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary, nee Colle, and father, Leo J. Bauer; two sisters, Mary Ann Duffy and Wilma Jean Chase; mother-in-law, Mary E. Grogan; father-in-law, Walter P. Grogan; and brother-in-law, John E. Kreisler.

Surviving are his wife of 45 years, Mary Kathryn "Katie," nee Grogan, Bauer; his three sons: son, William L. (Shelley) Bauer, Jr., grandchildren, Jordan, William L. "Trey" Bauer III, Tyffani, Brittany, and Kiyah Michelle Allen of Collinsville, Ill., great-grandchildren, Kamdyn Allen and Kyler and Kaden Stultz of Collinsville, Ill.; son, Michael P. (Stacey) Bauer, grandchildren, Kara, Michael Jr., and Devlin Bauer and Zane and Tagg Baker of Collinsville, Ill.; son, Gregory D. (Laura) Bauer, grandchildren, Henry and Penelope of Collinsville, Ill.; his sister, Margaret "Margie" Frailey; his sisters-in-law, Margaret A. "Peggy" Kreisler of Fairview Heights, Ill., and Rosemary (Dennis) Riggs of Granite City, Ill.; his brother-in-law, Walter P. Grogan Jr., of Collinsville Ill.; and numerous nieces, nephews, and close friends.

Memorials may be made in the form of Masses, to Ss. Peter and Paul Capital Fund or Unity Hospice. Condolences may be made at herrfuneral.com.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2013, and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Collinsville, Ill.

Funeral: Mass of Christian burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at the church with the Rev. John Beveridge officiating. Interment in Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Cemetery in Collinsville, Ill.