John H. Baumgardner, age 87 of Harshaw, passed away Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, at Seasons of Life Hospice House in Woodruff. John was born June 11, 1930, in Chicago, Ill., to the late Samuel and Mary Lou (Smith) Baumgardner.

John attended school in the Chicago area and entered the military after graduation. Following the military, he was employed by Sears, working in the advertising department for many years and later in the real estate business. John loved watching sports and reading. He was an avid Chicago Bears and Cubs fan and was excited to witness the Cubs win the World Series. In his earlier years, John was a talented athlete who was a semi-pro baseball player and was slated to go to training camp for the Cubs before he was drafted into the U.S. Marines. He was an animal lover who raised Japanese Chins and Alaskan Malamutes.

He is survived by his sons, Raymond Baumgardner of Indiana, and Charles Baumgardner of Rhinelander; daughters, Patrice (Tina Johnson) of Harshaw, Mary Beth (Eric) Gish of Wapello, Iowa and Carla Werner of Rhinelander; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

In accordance with John’s wishes, no formal services will be held. (Generations Funeral Home)