- Date Of Birth: April 27, 1912
- Date Of Death: March 23, 2010
- State: New Mexico
John Bauman passed away on March 23, 2010. He has been reunited with the love of his life, Rowena, in heaven.
John Martin Bauman was born April 27, 1912 in the Swiss community of Berne, Indiana. His father, Peter Bauman, migrated to the United States from Switzerland with his parents when he was 11. His mother, Anna Von Gunten Bauman was born in the United States, but her family also migrated from Switzerland. His father and mother homesteaded a plat of land east of Berne. His father was a very progressive farmer of the day, John grew up working on the farm. The family also raised a cousin, Clarence. He had three brothers, Ervin, twins Tim and Sylvan, and three sisters, Arminda, Esther and Ann. All preceded him in death except sister, Ann Hinchman of Winchester, Indiana. Johns family spoke mostly Swiss at home.
John attended school in a oneroom school house for the first eight years of his education. He attended Geneva High School in Geneva, Indiana, graduating in 1931. John went on to attend Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana graduating in 1935 with a B.S. Degree in Education. While attending Ball State he played varsity football for two years. Later, John continued graduate education at the University of Notre Dame , Indiana University and the University of New Mexico.
After graduating from college, he taught at Geneva High School from 1936 through 1942. John coached the Geneva Cardinals basketball team and led them to three consecutive Adams County Tournament titles. He also coached baseball while at Geneva High School.
In 1936, while teaching at Geneva High School, he met Rowena L. Luginbill from Berne, Indiana. They were married June 10, 1938. Rowena and John were married for 69 years, until Rowena went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2007.
John was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Force in 1943 attending basic training and P.T. schooling in Miami Beach, FL. John was assigned to the Air Force Base in Greensboro, N.C. where he served as a physical trainer and athletic instructor. He was honorably discharged January 31, 1946 with the rank of Tech Sgt.
John and Rowena then moved to Pleasant Mills, Indiana where he taught and coached at Pleasant Mills High School from 1947 to 1949. Daughter, Jane was born while they were living in Pleasant Mills.
In 1949, the family moved to South Bend, Indiana where he continued teaching at Washington Clay High School and was the assistant football coach. While in South Bend, daughter, Marsha was born.
John and Rowena, along with their two daughters, moved to Roswell, New Mexico in 1955. John was a math teacher at Roswell High School and also the junior varsity football coach. In 1966, John moved to Goddard High School where he taught until he retired in 1975. John was a charter faculty member of Goddard High School and was ticket sales manager for ten years. When John retired, he had taught school for 42 years.
John enjoyed his retirement to the fullest extent. He loved to garden and spent hours outdoors working in his yard. He continued to attend athletic events and his grandchildrens sports activities. He enjoyed reading and working crossword puzzles. One of the most important activities he participated in was his church. He was a Sunday school teacher and Sunday School Superintendent for many years. He had his priorities in order and always put God first in his life. He led by example. As a husband, father, grandfather, teacher, coach, friend, neighbor, he positively influenced so many lives. John was a member of the Roswell Central Church of the Nazarene where he attended faithfully.
John is survived by daughters Jane Dunlap and husband Travis of Roswell, New Mexico and Marsha Lard and husband Floyd of Roswell, New Mexico six grandchildren, Lesa Morrison and husband Shaelan of Las Cruces, New Mexico Loren Dunlap and wife Tracy of Los Lunas, New Mexico Jay Dunlap and wife Tiffany of Las Cruces, New Mexico Rebecca Sakelaris and husband John of Vermijo Park ,Raton, New Mexico Cory Cogdill and wife April of Roswell, New Mexico and Casey Tays and husband Scott of Roswell, New Mexico and thirteen greatgrandchildren. John is also survived by sisterinlaw, Vera Luginbill of Roswell and numerous nieces and nephews. John is also survived by his loving and caring friend, Marie Bizzell of Roswell.
A special thank you, to Dr.
