Maynard Paul Bauleke

Maynard Paul Bauleke, 1925-2015

Maynard Paul Bauleke, 90, died of cardiac arrest at Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence, Kansas, on December 6, 2015. Born in a remodeled log farm house in Le Sueur County, Minnesota, on May 5, 1925, to Henry and Anna (Holste) Bauleke, he was educated in Le Sueur public schools and after graduation was drafted to serve in the U.S. Naval Reserve, for which he received electrician’s mate training at the University of Kansas in 1944. Ultimately, he served in the submarine repair service stationed on Midway Island for the duration of World War II and until discharge.

After one year in the undergraduate engineering program at the University of Kansas, he transferred to the University of Alabama, where he received a B.S. in ceramic technology in 1949. After receiving a Ms.S. in ceramics from the University of Illinois in 1951, he was awarded a Ph.D. in ceramics from Iowa State College in 1956.

Following two years as a research scientist with Honeywell Corporation in Minnesota, in 1958 he was appointed to a joint position as a ceramist with the Kansas Geological Survey and as an associate professor in the Kansas University’s School of Engineering. He served with K.G.S. until 1985 and was a professor of mechanical engineering until 1988, teaching courses in nonmetallic materials and engineering metallurgy, as well as serving as scheduling officer. In 1966, he received a Richland Faculty Fellowship at the Battelle-Northwest Laboratories in Richland, Washington. In 1987, he was awarded the engineering school’s Gould Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher. He authored or co-authored numerous publications for the Kansas Geological Survey, as well as articles in professional journals during his engineering tenure.

His wife, the former Nettie Virginia Shirley, preceded him in death. He is survived by a son, Howard, of Washington, D.C. For nearly 50 years, he was a member of the Lawrence Unitarian Fellowship. At his request, no memorial service will be held. Inurnment will take place in Pioneer Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in honor of Maynard Bauleke to the Lawrence Public Library for the purchase of children’s and adults’ non-fiction and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.

1 Condolence

  1. Donald Whittemore on December 7, 2015 at 10:30 pm

    I am sorry to hear of the passing of Maynard. I knew Maynard for many years. He was working at the Kansas Geological Survey when I joined the Survey in 1978. I also found out that he and my father knew each other through similar background and professions – ceramic engineering. They both attended Iowa State University and were in the same department while there, although my father was there in the late 1930s to 1940 for an undergraduate degree whereas Maynard received his PhD about 16 years later. I believe that they sometimes saw each other at some of the America Ceramics Society annual meetings. They both taught at universities (my father at the University of Washington). So, in addition to enjoying talking to Maynard at the Survey, both during his work there and later, after his retirement, when he attended holiday and other get-togethers, there was a special connection because of my father’s and Maynard’s professional association. I had let Maynard know of my father’s passing when I saw him after that time.
    Maynard lived a long and productive life and blessed the lives of many. May you be comforted by all of the thoughts and prayers that so many are sending you (one of my Facebook friends shared the note on his passing).



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