Enrique "Hans" Beer

1939 - 2024

Beer, Enrique "Hans"

Enrique "Hans" Beer passed away on New Year's Eve 2024 at the age of 85 after an arduous battle with COVID. Despite being fully vaccinated, underlying health conditions compromised his immunity. Hans was born on April 27, 1939 to a Swiss national, Fritz Beer, and Peruvian native, Ana Maria Burneo-Beer in Piura, Peru. His childhood is replete with exotic memories of life in northern Peru and the warm relationships he fostered there that he maintained throughout his life. He graduated at the top of his class and intended to remain in South America to run the family farms until fate intervened and he met Donna Vaden (Phelps) Beer on a trip to visit his brother Rodolfo (a medical resident at Mercy Hospital). By all accounts, Donna was a stunning blonde Marilyn doppelganger and he was a suave Latin; it was truly love at first site. The initial fireworks resulted in a 60+ year blissful marriage. Hans immigrated to Ohio to be with Donna in 1969 and here he obtained a Masters Degree in Chemistry from the University of Cincinnati. He enjoyed a long career as a chemist at Champion International Paper, and subsequently a decade of work at Miami University. Although science was particularly fascinating to Hans, (who was thrilled to again experience a full solar eclipse in 2024), he was extremely well-read in all fields and maintained an irrepressible intellectual curiosity; often astounding people with is vast knowledge of: history, art, geography, medicine, science, entertainment, etc. He loved to travel and in retirement was able to enjoy trips with Donna to: Europe, Hawaii, the Caribbean, South America, as well as spending extensive time with his grandkids in Los Angeles. He is survived by his sister, Clara Beer-Ugaz, loving wife Donna Beer, five children: Duncan Beer, Diana (Tim) O'Brien, Deron (Heather) Beer, Christopher (Sheri) Beer, and Jeremy Beer, as well as 16 grandchildren and many beloved nieces, nephews and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his brothers Rudolfo Beer, Fritz Beer, Kurt Beer and sister Annie Beer. Most important to Hans was his family, safety, unity and leading of life of humility and integrity. He will be forever loved and missed by everyone who knew him. The family will have an open house to celebrate a life well lived on Saturday, January 11th at the Benison House from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at 100 S 3rd St, Hamilton, OH 45011. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in his honor. The family also encourages everyone to maintain vigilance in suppressing the spread of deadly respiratory diseases such as COVID which has impacted far too many families. THE WEBSTER FUNERAL HOME, Fairfield, Ohio is serving the family. www.websterfuneralhomes.com