John A. Bauman, age 74, of Gresham, passed away on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 in Green Bay. John was born in Gresham on February 25, 1943 to the late Harry and Geraldine (Ninham) Bauman. He met his future wife while attending Gresham High School. After graduating in 1961, he attended UW-Platteville, earning his Civil Engineering degree in 1966. On May 21, 1966, John was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart, Diane Zeuske at Zion Lutheran Church in Gresham. John was drafted into the United States Army in 1966 and served in Okinawa, Japan where he worked on the runway complex for U2 spy planes as well as serving a year in South Korea. He was honorably discharged in 1968 and went to work for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. His career took him all over the world. He was in Hawaii from 1968-1970 working on the “Punch Bowl Cemetery” renovations before moving to Maryland where he worked on the new building project for the Walter Reed Army Medical Center until 1976. In 1976 he moved to Ohio where he renovated an existing tank plant to build the new M1 Abrams Tanks and in 1978 he returned to Maryland where he worked out of the Baltimore office on various government projects until 1992. During his final stint in Maryland he was called upon, in 1986, to help with the construction of the Multi National Force of Observers in the Sinai Peninsula and in 1990 John was called to Tel Aviv, Israel during the Gulf War. Wherever he lived, he was always involved with the community. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Gresham, the current treasurer and past president of the Gresham Lions Club, a member of the Gresham American Legion Post #390, a platinum member and board member of Gresham Dollars for Scholars, and he was the Zone District Chairman for District 27-B2. In his free time he enjoyed golfing and spending time with his family. He loved family vacations and remembered every road he traveled as he and his family saw the United States from coast to coast, enjoying all the country had to offer.
John is survived by: his loving wife of 50 years, Diane; their children, John Paul Bauman of Gresham and Jennifer Bauman of Shawano; five sisters, Deanna Bauman of Shawano, Mary Raasch of Gresham, Jeri (John Breuninger) Bauman of Green Bay, Carol Bauman of Oneida, and Judy (Jim) Ward of Shawano; two brothers-in-law, Doug (Cathy) Zeuske and Dan (Karen) Zeuske; one sister-in-law, Debbie (Bruce) Hoeft; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by: his parents and a brother-in-law and good friend, Keith Raasch.
Funeral services for John will be held at 3:00 pm on Monday, March 20, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church in Gresham with Rev. John C. Eyer officiating. Burial will be in Zion Rest Cemetery. Military Honors will be conducted by the Gresham American Legion Post #390. Visitation will be held on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at Swedberg Funeral Home in Gresham from 4:00 – 7:00 pm and again at the church on Monday from 1:00 pm until the time of the services.
