John C. Baumann

Visitation for John Baumann, 86, of Aurelia will be Friday, February 9, 2024 at the St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aurelia, IA from 4:00 to 7:00P.M. with the family present.  Private family inurnment will be held at a later date at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Aurelia. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to The Gardens 1610 Hwy 3, Cherokee, IA 51012 or Cherokee Regional Hospice 212 East Bow Dr., Cherokee, IA 51012.

          John Carl Baumann was born on September 24, 1937 in Aurelia, Iowa the only child of John Herman and Mary Louise (Poppe) Baumann.  John attended school in Aurelia graduating in 1955.  As a teenager he worked with his father doing masonry work and after high school he worked for Nelson Dairy in Aurelia.  On September 14, 1958 John was united in marriage to Phyllis Otto at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia.  In 1960 John worked at Cherokee Bottling as a pop salesman, then drove truck for Orlo Shank in Aurelia.  In 1964 John and Phyllis started Baumann Shows Carnival and traveled summers in Iowa, South Dakota, Nebraska and Minnesota until selling the carnival in 1993.  In 1979 John built and owned the Casey’s General Store in Aurelia until Casey’s Corporate bought John out in 1999.  In his retirement years he was a delivery driver for Sleezer Select Stock.   John was involved with car racing his whole life and owned sprint cars, stock cars and modified cars over the years, always running under the number 66. He was a lifelong member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aurelia.  John enjoyed attending his grandchildren and great-granddaughters events.  John had written his life story which can be viewed at http://tinyurl.com/johnbaumannlifestory.

            John died on Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at the Accura Healthcare of Aurelia where he had been a resident for one day under Cherokee Regional Hospice’s loving care.

            Preceding John in death were his parents, in-laws, Wilbert & Elsie Otto. Two brothers-in-law, Duane Otto, Glenn Hegland and one sister-in-law Carolyn Hegland.

            Surviving John are his wife, Phyllis of Remsen, IA, three children, Cindy and her husband Jeff Kai of Aurelia, Kelley and her husband Dan Roberts of Norfolk, NE, Alan Baumann of Anthon.  Five grandchildren, Brent and his wife Kelli Kai of Cedar Falls, IA, Shana and her husband Drew Wieland of Aurelia, Leah Kai of Sioux Falls, SD, Amy and her husband Patrick Campbell of Omaha, NE and Eric Roberts and fiancée Megan Powers of Omaha.  Five great-grandchildren, Kolby and Romy Kai, Reese, Evie, and Delta Wieland.  Brothers and sisters-in-law, Rodney and his wife Phyllis Otto of Grand Rapids, MI, Ron and his wife Eileen Steffens of Cumming, GA, Gary and his wife Alura Otto of Aurelia, and Joel and his wife Cheryl Otto of Mesa, AZ many other relatives and friends.