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John Beyer Obituary
Born in 1945 in Indianapolis, Ind., JB moved to Miami with his mother as a young boy. In high school, he joined the flying club, which led to a long career in aviation. John attended college at the University of Michigan at the Flint Michigan campus for his first two years while living with his father and brother. He earned his private pilot license working part-time at Dalton Airport in Flushing, Mich., during the summers. John thereafter completed his engineering degree at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor while concentrating on his flying career.
After college, John became a flight instructor during summers on the Cape and worked at the Captain's Table in Chatham. Later, he became a pilot for Provincetown-Boston Airways, flying out of Hyannis in the summer and Naples, Fla., each winter. JB flew all of the PBA aircraft, including the DC-3 and an open cockpit Stearman used for excursion flights on the Cape. Following the demise of PBA, he flew for various carriers out of Milwaukee, including Rosenberg Airlines, where he carried auto parts from Detroit and fresh seafood from Alaska. For several years, he flew charters to Europe and Hawaii until he joined Mid West Express, flying scheduled routes around the country on an MD-88 aircraft out of Milwaukee. JB was grounded following his leukemia diagnosis in 1998 and was retained as a ground employee until 2003.
Each summer, he continued to visit Chatham, enjoying good conversation with his Cape friends. He loved to swim and found peace in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans throughout his treatments.
His brother, Russell Beyer of Freeland, Mich., and numerous friends throughout the country, survive him.
A Cape celebration of JB's life will be scheduled at a later date. Friends are encouraged to sign the online guest book and to leave contact information at [email protected].
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6 Entries
Louise
June 2, 2025
You were my first love.... always in my heart..
J S
June 21, 2008
To my dearest family, some things I'd like to say...
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I'm writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there's no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I'm out of sight.
Remember that I'm with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, "I welcome you."
It's good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they'll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you're part of my plan.
There's so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man."
God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day's chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you....in the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn't understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o'er.
I'm closer to you now, than I ever was before.
There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I'd like it for you too...
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.
If you can help somebody who's in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night......"My day was not in vain."
And now I am contented....that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.
So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you're walking down the street, and you've got me on your mind;
I'm walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it's time for you to go.... from that body to be free,
remember you're not going.....you're coming here to me.
Ruth Ann Mahaffey (author)
©Copyright 1998-2008
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Carl & Carol Olson
June 21, 2008
It was a good run!
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