Funeral arrangements announced for Columbus firefighter who died from COVID

Funeral arrangements have been announced for a Columbus firefighter who died earlier this week after contracting COVID-19. 

Greg Bauer, 56, will be laid to rest Tuesday after a celebration of life service at X Church, located at 6600 Bigerton Bend in Canal Winchester. 

Bauer died Monday morning after an "extended battle" with the coronavirus, according to his obituary. 

More:Columbus firefighter becomes second within a month to die after contracting COVID-19

Hired in 1996, Bauer was described in the Facebook post as a leader at Columbus Fire Station 21, located on the city's East Side, where he was affectionately nicknamed "the mayor."

"Greg had no issue having a talk to anyone that wasn't holding up their share but was also a mentor the young firefighters on all three shifts," the post read. "This man was truly the very definition of pride and ownership within the fire service."

Bauer was a 1983 graduate of Groveport Madison High School and is survived by his parents, a sister, his girlfriend and the couple's son, as well as other family members and friends. 

Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church, and again from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday. The funeral service will begin at 3 p.m. Tuesday, followed by a private burial. Masks will be required at all events. 

Bauer's family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to the Columbus Firefighters Charitable Foundation or the American Lung Association. 

Bauer is the second Columbus firefighter and third city public safety employee to die from COVID-related complications in less than a month.

On Sept. 19, 66-year-old firefighter Frank Duff Jr. died from complications arising from COVID that he contracted while on duty.

On Oct. 13, Columbus police officer James Stroyzck, 49, died from COVID complications.

The city does not currently have a vaccination mandate for public safety employees and employees are not required to disclose their vaccination status to the city. 

bbruner@dispatch.com

@bethany_bruner