John E. Beyer, 01 Jun 1964 - 09 Apr 2024

BEYER, WARNER, TIMM FAGERSTROM, MOFFITT, NOETHE

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 4/17/2024 at 14:07:19

John E. Beyer, age 59, of Lannon, Wisconsin, formerly of Marengo, passed away Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at Aria of Waukesha in Wisconsin. A private family burial will be held prior to his funeral service at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 15, 2024, at Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo, with Pastor Joseph Blay officiating. Visitation will follow the funeral service until 4:00 PM. Memorials may be contributed in John’s memory to the Iowa Valley Alumni Association at 359 E. Hilton St. Marengo, Iowa 52301 or the Iowa State Alumni Association at 429 Alumni Ln. Ames, Iowa 50011. Kloster Funeral Home, Marengo is caring for John and his family.

John was born in Tripler Army Medical Center, the pink hospital on the hill, in Honolulu, HI., on June 1, 1964. He romped his way barefoot through soft grass, plumeria, poinsettia and gardenia blossoms in Waipio Acres on Oahu until February 1966. His father First Lt. Larry Beyer was a helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Schofield Barracks, flying out of Wheeler Air Force Base. Once reassigned to Ft. Benning, Columbus, GA., Larry went to Vietnam on February 14, 1966. John acquired his first pair of shoes when he and his mom Nancy Warner Beyer moved to “the little green house on Ellis Avenue” in Iowa Falls, IA., to be near her parents, Perle (Pappy) and Eva (Tutu) Warner, and John’s grandparents Howard and Mildren Beyer (Grandpa and Grandma B), who fared near Belle Plaine. On September 5, John became a big brother to Michael Lynn Beyer. John loved following his grandfathers around their farms and helping his grandmothers in their kitchens. As an adult he loved all animals and became a good cook.

When his father returned home in February 1967, the family moved to Fort Wolters, TX., where Larry was a rotary wing instructor pilot for a year. In Texas, John 2, learned about shoes and long pants. After five years of military service, the family, now four, settled into farming with Larry’s father near Koszta, Iowa.

Preschool at the Marengo Presbyterian Church was John’s first educational experience, which he took very seriously. One day when he was trying to finish a project, his teacher, Doris Goering, urged him to hurry a bit so he could go out for recess with the other children. He turned and looked up at her with his big brown eyes and said, “Don’t RUSH me, Mrs. Goering!” The pattern was set. For the next 18 years of scholastic endeavors, he was always fighting deadlines with perfection being his goal.

John graduated from Iowa Valley High School as salutatorian, two-tenths of a point behind Scott Hauser. He matriculated at Iowa State University until 1988 with a year’s full-ride in scholarships. With requirements for four majors fulfilled he was told he needed to choose two for his university records, so physics and math went in the books. His first employment was with Star Technologies, in Sterling, VA., as a software engineer.

In his mid-20’s John succumbed to bipolar disorder. With chemical treatment he was able to function well at work and play. He chose to settle in beautiful Lannon, WI., and bought a home there. As the years went by, with February being the worst month, he could no longer perform in the high-pressure world of medical technology software design even with pharmaceutical aids. He wouldn’t be persuaded to take any other kind of work. His parents again became the source of his support. Those were difficult years as he, his family and friends struggled with broken dreams.

He never lost touch with his many friends from high school and college who describe him as a great person with a kind soul and fun sense of humor. He delighted in playing Santa for the littles. Living in Wisconsin, John became a diehard Green Bay Packers fan and took pride in holding one stock in the locally owned team. He became an excellent poker player with three groups. He often said if you look around the table and can’t tell who the biggest loser is, it’s you. John was a joy as a son and a nephew, cousin, and friend.

John is survived by his parents, uncles Lynn Beyer, of Jewell, Michael Warner of Marion and James Timm of Marengo; aunts Gwendolyn Timm of Marengo, Cynthia Warner of Marion, and Vicki Fagerstrom of Des Plaines, IL., cousins Kim (Ryan) Moffitt of Ames, Jennifer Beyer of Miller, MO., and Amelia Warner of Marion; also surviving him is Lisa Noethe, fiancé of deceased younger brother, Mike Beyer. Also preceding him in death were his aunt Susan Beyer, uncle Dean Warner, a cousin Chad Beyer, and his grandparents.

Published in The Gazette on April 13, 2024 and in The Hometown Current on April 17, 2024.