Bill Baurele, Mayer pastor, dies
Dec 23, 2020
Bill Bauerle
By Rik Danielsen
How would you want to be remembered when you have been called home to be with the Lord? Carrie Hendricks, daughter of Bill and Janelle Bauerle, said concerning her father, “We kids felt unconditional love from our father. He loved our mom well, and they had a godly example of marriage.” What greater legacy could one ask for?
William (Bill) Frederick Bauerle was born on April 14, 1953, and was called to his heavenly home on Nov. 19, 2020. He came to faith in Christ Jan. 23, 1981.
Bauerle’s most recent ministry responsibility was to serve as the pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Mayer.
His wife, Janelle, said Bauerle attended Faith Center in Eugene, Oregon, on Jan. 23, 1981, to appease her. That day Pastor Roy Hicks preached on the woman at the well from John 4, and God used that message to pierce his heart and bring him to faith.
Shortly after that, Bauerle sensed a call to ministry and began his training. He received degrees from Calvary Chapel Bible College, Covenant Theological Seminary and The North American Reformed Seminary. Over the years, he served in various positions in church leadership including worship leader, associate pastor, pastor and seminary teacher.
Bauerle was a loving family man. He was a fun dad who loved to tease and play with his children and grandchildren. His children also said he was a great teacher who taught his kids practical skills that would serve them well as they grew and matured. He also taught them about music and how to lead music in the churches they were a part of.
His children said his first and primary ministry was his family. His son, James, said one of his fondest memories of time spent with his dad was a bicycle trip the two of them took. One year, when Bauerle was on summer break from seminary, the two of them got on their bicycles and rode across the state of Missouri.
As a follower of Christ, Bauerle was in love with God’s Word and was passionate about teaching the Bible. One of the teaching ministries Bauerle had was with The North American Reformed Seminary. Bauerle had received a doctorate in apologetics from that institution and taught with them. Because it is a distance-learning school, Bauerle was able to help train pastors around the world.
Rik Danielsen, who recently retired as director of evangelism and missions for Yavapai Association, said, “I had the privilege of recommending Bill to First Southern of Mayer. He began by serving as their transitional pastor, but the folks fell in love with Bill and voted to call him as their pastor. This is not how we normally recommend churches find pastors, but how can you argue with a church that loves their pastor and wants him to serve them? Bill will be greatly missed by his congregation and his colleagues in Yavapai Baptist Association.”
Bauerle is survived by his wife of 41 years, Janelle; their two children: Carrie (Hendricks) and James; and nine grandchildren.