Dale Bauer, 87, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario. He was born on November 21, 1937, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Dale’s early years in Sioux Falls were filled with life-lessons from his grandparents. In school, his favorite subject was music. He played the trumpet in the high school marching band. He continued to play his trumpet until his final months of life.
After graduating high school, Dale enlisted in the US Army where he became a helicopter mechanic. His military service took him to Germany after World War II. While stationed there, he met and fell in love with Centa, his German sweetheart. The two were married in Germany before returning to Sioux Falls.
In Sioux Falls, Dale worked as a Letter Carrier while nurturing his interest in photography. He did wedding photography for several years before transitioning into the photofinishing industry. In 1975, seeking new opportunities for his family, Dale moved them to Darling's Island. There he joined Appleby Color Lab in Saint John before launching his own business—Rainbow Color Lab—and later creating Country Photo, a mail-in film processing service that reached families all across Canada.
A kind and clever man with a generous spirit, magnetic personality and infectious sense of humor, Dale had the ability to fix almost any machine. Ever the tinkerer and innovator, Dale built his own elaborate flight simulator—even using some repurposed photofinishing equipment! He liked both ends of practical jokes and shared laughter freely with those around him. His compassion extended beyond people; he was a frequent visitor to the Saint John Animal Rescue League. Dale always chose to adopt the oldest dogs—the ones often overlooked—offering them comfort and love in their final years.
Dale was devoted to his family. Dale looked after Centa at home in her final years of life. He was intensely proud of his daughter Christa and made sure she always knew it. When Christa welcomed her daughter Kena from Ethiopia into their lives, Dale embraced her with open arms and an open heart. “Berha” as Kena called him, was a source of wisdom and unconditional love.
After a stroke in December 2017 left him unable to care for himself, his daughter Christa moved him to Ottawa so she could take care of him. "My dad could fix anything, including broken hearts. He gave me a solid foundation of love, passed along to me his great sense of humour and his work ethic. He always taught me to make the next person’s life better. He is my hero."
A memorial service will be held at a later date on Darling’s Island where Dale spent many happy years enjoying the river and tending to the land he loved so dearly. Donations in Dale's name may be made to the Saint John SPCA Animal Rescue.
