Herman Baumann

Herman Baumann was a modest man, quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in both his approach to life and in his various relationships. He was tough-minded with the kind of "stick-to-it" attitude that earned the respect of all who knew him. He was also a man who was meticulous, carefully disciplined, and orderly in virtually everything he undertook. Herman was realistic about life and was always at the ready, prepared to take on any responsibility that faced him.

Herman came into the world on August 1, 1928. He first greeted the world in Monterey Park, California. Herman experienced many things while growing up. He was the son of Herman and Olga Baumann. He was brought up to be self-confident and dependable. These were traits that would serve him well throughout his life.

Growing up, Herman was good at working through the usual family problems and spats when they appeared. He had three younger brothers, Donald, John and Richard. He was the type of person who seemed to be constantly involved in activities with the all of the members of his family. Herman and his siblings may have had the typical rivalries while growing up, but he was always consistently loyal to them.

While his teachers and even his friends generally thought of Herman as being a serious person, he managed to have a pretty good time in high school as he made that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. He was a very logical person who enjoyed learning about factual information. Using his exceptional memory, he was able to learn much through observation. He always seemed to have a command of the facts and was able to make it seem as though he could easily master any problem that might be presented to him. He graduated from El Monte High School in 1946.

Though the teen years were primarily focused on education, there were plenty of things going on outside of school for Herman. Because he was so conscientious, Herman began to understand the meaning of responsibility at an early age. He was always interested in cars and that is what probably led him to his future career. No matter what he was responsible for, he always made sure to be painstakingly meticulous.

He was often quiet upon first impression. But would quickly open up once he felt comfortable. But then he met the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. It was truly love at first site, there was magic when Herman met Edith Patricia Howley.

Being very traditional, Herman wanted to make sure everything about the upcoming wedding was just right. The couple exchanged vows on November 18, 1950 at St. Gregory's in Los Angeles, California. This marked the beginning of their time together as a family. Following the ceremony, De and Herman went to Palm Springs on their honeymoon.

Compassionate and devoted to De, Herman held endearing, traditional values about marriage and family life. He took the responsibility of marriage to heart, giving it his total commitment. He was a source of strength to De, and using his gifts at nurturing one-on-one relationships, he worked hard to make his new family happy.

Herman brought the same traditional values by which he lived his life to how he raised his own family. He was a good Father, always firm yet fair in his dealings. He would always listen carefully and think things through before he acted, even when it was an adverse situation. He always seemed to know what everyone in the family needed, where they needed to be and when they needed to be there. He had two children, one son Bob and one daughter Shery. The children have always filled Herman and De with pride and joy because of their accomplishments.

Herman tried his best to make sure the children were raised in a warm and nurturing environment. He was also very traditional about the holidays and vacations on which the family went. Later on in life, Bob married Luann Stoltzer and he was further blessed with three grandchildren, Brian, Jennifer and Kevin. They continued to be a joy to Herman and De and spent most of their Holidays together.

Herman greatly enjoyed what he did for a living. He was a hard worker who expected the same work ethic from his co-workers. He was skilled at working effectively in just about every situation; this included small groups, one-on-one situations, as well as group tasks. He enjoyed dealing with concrete ideas and could penetrate any situation to reach the essential facts. Always able to attend to the task at hand, he was excellent at meeting deadlines and running a full-time business. He was an efficient worker, one who paid careful attention to details, allowing sufficient time to complete one task before moving on to the next. His primary occupation was working as a successful self-employed businessman. He owned and operated three different Full-Service Gas Stations throughout his 40 year career. He made many friends, business associates, and partnerships over the years. His honesty, work ethic and friendly demeanor made him well known and respected throughout the community.

Herman worked hard to be a team player, doing what was necessary to meet objectives. He was willing to do whatever it took to get the job done, even if that meant going the extra mile.

Herman was an Army veteran. He was stationed in Lompoc. He was sent to Japan in 1951 for a year and Korea for 5 months as a cook for the service men on the front line. Herman achieved the final rank of Sergeant. A literal thinker who possessed a calm exterior, Herman seemed to enjoy the routines set forth by the military. His results-oriented approach to things made him committed to the job at hand.

Herman liked to experience things firsthand as well as learn about them. This trait carried over into his hobbies. He was very methodical in how he organized his activities and categorized things. Since he enjoyed his private time, Herman always tried to set aside a certain amount of time for working on his hobbies. He also enjoyed watching baseball, especially the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Herman was a man who was dedicated and devoted to his faith. Herman was a member of St. Christopher Catholic Church for 58 years. In the last several years, he has had the honor to take up weekly collections. He was a sympathetic man who valued his beliefs and was willing to work tirelessly for them.

When Herman looked ahead toward retirement he did his best to be fully prepared. The day for him to leave the workforce came in 1989. He had begun planning retirement far in advance, so everything was set out well when the time came. Herman remained in West Covina. Retirement didn't slow him down. He and his brother owned racehorses in the 70's and 80's and spent many weekends at their family friend's ranch. He also traveled to Bonneville to see the car races. In the past 10 years, he has kept active and enjoyed bike riding, running and going to the gym. He spent additional time working in the yard, maintaining the family cars and watched news, history, finance and the Wealth Channel when he did take the time to sit and relax. His knack for finance kept him busy on the computer for a few hours every day.

He enjoyed driving and going places. Taking De shopping or to get her hair done, running errands or out to dinner was a daily event. They also liked to travel. He and De have traveled throughout the country and taken several cruises including Hawaii and Mexico with their family. They have been going to Laughlin with friends and family for the past 20 years. They have been inseparable for over 60 years.

Even in retirement, Herman continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. He was a quiet and unassuming man, but he had presence that couldn't be ignored. He was always up for an engaging discussion. He didn't preach or argue to make his point. He led by example in every aspect of his life.

Herman Baumann left us on April 29, 2011. He passed away Arcadia Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, California. He was 82 years old. He is survived by his wife De, his children Bob and Shery, his grandchildren Brian, Jennifer and Kevin, his brothers Donald and Richard. Services were handled by Custer Christiansen Mortuary. Herman was laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery in Montebello, California.

Many would say that "commitment" is a word that best describes the life of Herman Joseph Baumann. He was committed to living the life of a good man who was both practical and trustworthy. He was committed to the traditional values that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to being a hard worker who expected the same effort in return from others. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved.