John H. Bauer

JOHN H. BAUER , 96, of Evansville, Illinois, passed away at 11:50 pm, Friday, April 26, 2019 surrounded by his family.

He was born to the late Anton J. and Ida (nee Gross) Bauer on July 5, 1922 in Evansville, Illinois.

John married Leora M. Becker on June 5, 1946 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Evansville, Illinois; she preceded him in death on June 28, 2015.

He had worked for the International Shoe Company in Chester for 30 years. He then worked for Chester Mental Health Center for 17 years before retiring.

John was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Evansville. He was also a life member of the Chester V.F.W. Post #3553 and the Evansville American Legion Post #1172. John also participated in the 2 ^nd Illinois Honor Flight accompanied by his children.

John was a Private First Class served in WWII with Company 1, 3 ^rd Infantry Division in the U.S. Army. He was drafted into the Army on December 15, 1942 and was sent to Wyoming for Infantry training and shoe repair. From New York he boarded a troop ship to Casablanca and Tunis in North Africa. From there to Naples, Italy and then to Paris, France where he was assigned to 3 ^rd Infantry on the front line. John participated in battles of Rome-Arno, Rhine, Munich, Nurnberg, through Germany and Salzberg, Austria. When the Germans surrendered, John was on the second tank to arrive at the Eagles Nest (Hitlers home hideout) in Salzberg, Austria. John was discharged December 8, 1945.

He received the Combat Infantry Badge SS with rifle, five Overseas Service Bars, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon with 3 Bronze Stars, Good Conduct Medal, Bronze Arrowhead and WWII Victory Medal.

Survivors:

4 Children:

Ida (Peter) Girouard   Centennial, CO

Richard Bauer (Janey Unsell)   Steeleville, IL

Carol (Jerry) Meyer  Red Bud, IL

Lori (Larry) Thies     Red Bud, IL

1 Sister-in-law:

Allene Becker   Evansville, IL

12 Grandchildren:

Diana (Troy) Shoemaker, Eric (Jamie) Girouard, Pam (Ben) Alworth, Michael (Chelsea) Girouard, Christa (Alex) Goldstein,

Andrea (Ryan) Reiss, Tiffany Bauer, Cassie (Josh) Chambers, Scott (Stephanie) Meyer, Jay (Katie) Meyer, Kaitlyn (Josh) Koch and Tyler Thies

10 Great Grandchildren:

Kayla and Jesslyn Shoemaker, Danica and Mason Girouard, Olivia and Will Alworth, Rylan and Rhett Reiss, Ella Bauer and Owen Goldstein

Preceded in death by: Parents, Wife, 2 Sisters – Martha Stumpe and Mary Heine and 6 Brothers – Henry, Arthur, Tony, Ralph, Vernon and Irvin

Funeral Mass:

10:00 am, Wednesday, May 1, 2019

St. Boniface Catholic Church, Evansville, Illinois

Officiating:

Father Larry Lemay

Interment:

St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery

Evansville, Illinois

Visitation:

Tuesday – 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Wednesday – 8:00 am – 9:45 am

Pechacek Funeral Homes, Evansville, Illinois

Memorials:

St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery

Vitas Hospice

Honor Flight of Southern Illinois