Obituary of Joseph Bayer

After a long struggle with diabetes and a 16-year struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, Joseph Bayer made his final journey home on March 8^th, 2019 in his 90^th year.

Survived by his wife of 58 years Margaret Bayer (Hoswitschka) son Michael (Waterloo), daughter Laurie (Neal) Hewitt (Alma) and grandson Patrick Hewitt (Guelph) and sister Barbara Braman (Jacksonville, FL) Florida, sister-in-law Gloria Bayer (St. Jacobs), brother-in-law Herb and Eileen Hoswitschka of Ottawa, special nieces Nancy Bayer and Marianne (Tim Trotter) Bayer and many loving nieces, nephews and relatives in Canada, the USA, Germany and Romania.

Predeceased by his parents John and Barbara Bayer, his in-laws Franz and Margaret Hoswitchka and Rosa Hoswitschka, brother John Bayer and sister-in-law Mary Bayer, brother-in-law Jack Braman, brother-in-law Wilfrid Fehrenbach and sister-in-law Erna Fehrenbach.

Joseph Bayer was born June 24^th, 1929 in Kitchener Ontario, in Waterloo County. He was a man of few words and had great integrity.  He was a supervisor at Carling O’Keefe and later Labatt breweries in Waterloo for 46 years until his retirement.  Later in life, Joseph upgraded his education at Conestoga College and obtained his millwright and tool and die makers tickets as well.  Joseph was an avid aviator, in the 1950s after the war, he flew Tiger Moths and Harvards.  Joseph was a long-time member of the Flying Dutchmen Radio Control Model Aircraft Club and he was a very successful model aircraft builder.  Poppa Joe loved spending time at his cottage in Point Clark Ontario on Lake Huron fishing, playing cards, having wiener roasts, attending special events and all the ‘ACTION’ at Point Clark.  He enjoyed his family and loved when his friends, grandchild, nieces and nephews visited him on the shores of Lake Huron.

The family would like to thank his long time Doctor Michael Casey, the CCAC nursing staff and the personal support workers who cared for him at home for many years and Dr. Marc Sawyer, the nursing staff and personal support workers of the Village at University Gates Mathews neighbourhood long term care facility who cared for Poppa Joe.  The family would like to thank his great-nephew Craig Curran and the Rev. Rafal Tomon who supported the family on Poppa Joe’s final journey home.

Friends are invited to share their memories of Joseph with his family during visitation at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King St. S. Waterloo, on Thursday March 14, 2019 from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm.  Parish prayers will be held at 8:45pm.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday March 15, 2019 at 11:00am at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, 173 Lourdes Avenue, Waterloo, with the Reverend Rafal Tomon as celebrant. A reception will follow the mass in the Church Hall.  Cremation and internment to follow at a later date.

Condolences for the family and donations in Joseph’s memory may be made to Ontario Wound Care Inc. (Judy Dan Research and Treatment Centre) which treats diabetic wounds, Our Lady of Lourdes St. Vincent de Paul Society or the Alzheimer’s Society would be appreciated by the family and can be arranged through the funeral home at www.erbgood.com or 519-745-8445.