John’s family is in our thoughts on this sad anniversary. We miss him and honor his memory. Carol and Norris

Christmas together, we missed you dear John, RIP.   Sal.

John, enjoying your delicious Mimosas my friend, love, Sal

My friend, you were always present making Irene laugh, thank you very much for your friendship, you will be in our memory forever. 

Dear John, you were the best Chef, always tasting your exquisite dishes my friend.  Thanksgiving - 2021.

John, planning Thanksgiving lunch, always celebrating, we missed him, RIP.

John…”I was paying close attention to everything you used to say to me John…”   Love, Maxy.

We were rewatching our video with John in Bayreuth Germany and it brought back memories of how fun and funny he was. He was the butt of many of my jokes (said with love) and took it all in good stride by doubling up in laughter. He was always immaculately dressed whether going to the Opera or strolling through town in his shorts and those colorful shirts he had hundreds of, seemingly.
As well as his passion for Bourbon Old Fashioneds and his love of Chateau Neuf du Pape wine he liked to start the day off with a Mimosa...

Another Birthday’s  celebration my friend, always sharing a nice cake and the inevitables Mimosas, you loved it.  RIP

We always enjoyed to take little Maxy for a walk to visit Irene, she used to love you guys very much.

My dear friend, it was Maxi's birthday in May, you brought a big birthday cake, we were laughing a lot that day. 

John you will be deeply missed when we visit Marco. I am happy on our last visit with you Sal and Susan we went to your favorite place for lunch. I will also miss your amazing food preparation you shared on Facebook. RIP my dear friend. 

Dear  john, I will always remember your smile and your sense of humor, sometimes with nice sarcasm, always looking for reasons to celebrate, even on not very good days.  Sharing fun conversations the three of us, with your dear friend Sal and of course with your inseparable four-legged companion Max, without a doubt very good times.  Fly high John, we will always remember you and you will live forever in the hearts of those who loved you very much.  RIP.    Your friend, Susan Amez.

Dear John, we always celebrated together, birthdays, holidays, and our friendship, I will add pictures of our celebration of life, love.                     Your friend Humphrey Sarlo.

                     Dear John,  in your new life you will not have to suffer through another season of Green Bay Packers losses.  What a victory that will be.   
                      May you rest in peace.  You had very little rest in this life.  May the Good Lord receive you into HIs bosom.                  

                                                                                                          Sal

So sorry to hear of John's passing.  I always looked forward to his smile  and laugh when he would bring Max in for grooming. 
Rest in Peace John

Much love to the family from Max's groomer,
Paula

On one of his many Opera trips to hear Wagner in New York, John found out that a favorite funny man, Barry Humphries was doing his Dame Edna Everage show on Broadway. We  met him in New York and obviously had to join him so off we went and we had seats in the front row. Dame Edna likes to call some people from the audience during "her" act and she  called up Carol and John. They were on stage for about 15 minutes and both of them got laughs  for their ad-libs to Dame Edna. She brought lunch on stage for them as part of the skit. John and Carol both had fun!

John was up for anything. Carol and I introduced him to hiking in Germany and he took part in our Snowsqualmie Falls Death March in the countryside beyond Seattle in the sweltering heat. He joined us for the long drive to see the remains of Mt.St. Helens too. In 2001 while staying with him in Marco we suggested a drive to Orlando to visit Disney's Animal Kingdom for a few days. He suggested I drive as it was a long haul so we packed up his BMW station wagon and off we went for a few days of fun and fine dining. Jeb Blankenbiler (R.I.P) joined us.

Carol and I met John in Chicago in 1997 when he had already retired from his globetrotting career with Shure Inc. We shared a love of Opera. Wagner and Puccini were his favorite composers. Two years later in the summer of 1999 we three were in Bayreuth, Germany for the Wagner Festival and so we were able to enjoy his company at every meal and every performance.
Breakfasts in the sun were two hour affairs as John was in charge of the Mimosas and kept them coming.
He was a great talker and a great listener. His wit and light spirit drew us in from the day we met him.
Back in the USA we did further Opera trips to Seattle and New York (several times, always for Wagner). He was always great company and charmed everyone he met. 
I raise my Bourbon Old Fashioned to him.

Carol Levenson, friends since 1997. I have so many wonderful memories of John I don’t know where to begin. Me and my partner, Norris Adair,  spent many vacations with John and we three traveled to Germany, Seattle, and New York to hear his beloved Wagner. His generosity and humor knew no bounds. We haven’t seen him for years but we always kept up with him. He came so close to cruising to Cuba with us in 2019 but he decided against it. It would have been a blast to cruise with him. Here is a photo of us with John in 1999 at the Wagner opera festival in Bayreuth, Germany.

OBITUARY

John Henry Baier

July 8, 1942 – June 18, 2022

Hodges-Josberger Funeral Home

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