JERRY W. BAUERMEISTER, 65, of Auburn, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2010, at St. Joseph Hospital, Fort Wayne. He was a firefighter, arson investigator, and deputy chief for the Fort Wayne Fire Department, retiring in 1992 after 25 years of service. He then became Fire Chief of the Auburn Fire Department for 13 years, retiring on Dec. 1, 2005. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Auburn. He was also a member of F.A.S.T. (Fire Arson Specialized Team), C.I.S.M. (Critical Incident Stress Management Team), IVY Tech Fire Science Advisory Board, Indiana Fire Chief's Association, International Association of Fire Chief's, and the International Association of Fire Investigation. He was the 1987 Indiana Firefighter of the Year. One of his primary goals as a firefighter and fire chief was training and education. Born March 13, 1945, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of the late Albert and Emma (Meswarp) Bauermeister. He married Susan Adams on Nov. 7, 1969, at the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Fort Wayne; she survives in Auburn. Also surviving are his son and daughter-in-law, Andrew Bauermeister and Lea Couture of Fort Wayne; brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Shirley Bauermeister of Fenton, Mich.; and sister and brother-in-law, Becky and Bruce Putman of Antwerp, Ohio. He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Ginne Bauermeister, in 1998.