Bob Bayer

The time has come for us to honor the life and legacy of Robert Steven John Bayer, who passed away peacefully in his home on Wednesday, November 6, 2024. He is preceded in death by his parents, Laurence (d. 1995) and Carol (d. 2004), his brother, Jeff (d. 1983), his brother-in-law William Mitchell, his nephews Christopher, William, Scott, and Robert Mitchell, great-nephew Robert Cook, and honorary daughter Michaela Barry (d. 2021). He is survived by his sister Barbara Mitchell of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, daughters Beth Wampler, Barbara Bayer, and Bonnie Ebel, of Florida, along with their spouses, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren by Beth, his son Robert, daughter-in-law Kate (formerly Thornburgh), and granddaughters Maggie and Jane, of Kansas City, Missouri, and many more nieces, nephews, and extended family.
Robert, who was known as Rob by his sister and Bob by nearly everybody else, was born on February 4, 1948 in Paterson, New Jersey, to Carol and Laurence Bayer. He grew up in Fairlawn, New Jersey with his big sister Barbara and little brother Jeff, whom he adored. He spent his senior year in Alexandria, Egypt, where he obtained his highschool diploma. After that, he moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he completed an AA through Edison Community College, followed by a BA and MA through the University of South Florida (go Bulls!) and became a father with his then-wife to three beautiful, sweet girls. After ten years in Florida, he moved alone to Kansas City, Kansas to begin his career as an educator. He completed his EDs from the University of Missouri and taught at Wyandotte High School (go Bulldogs!), where he spent 34 years serving in various roles of teacher, head of the DECA program, entrepreneurial mentor, assistant principle, football game announcer, and more. In Kansas City, he also met and married Darla Nealey, and they welcomed their son, Bobby, into the world in 1985.
Bob took several trips domestically and internationally. He was often accompanied by his sister Barb, brother-in-law Bill, and friends from overseas. His favorite vacations included Yosemite National Park, Hawaii, Myrtle Beach, the UK, and Italy. On one trip to New England, he determined that Rhode Island offers the best clam chowder in the region. Bob and Bobby took multiple father-son trips across the country visiting ballparks, from San Francisco to Boston.
Bob enjoyed reading thrillers, watching westerns, eating a medium rare steak, having a cup of coffee after dinner, and following his beloved Kansas City Chiefs and Royals. What brought Bob the most joy in his final years was time with family and friends, gardening and admiring the blooms of dahlias, roses, clematis, and more, attending mass and being highly engaged with Good Shepherd Catholic church, where he was a lector and served in hospital and hospitality ministry, and membership with the Knight of Colubus. The family would like to acknowledge and thank a few of Bob's dearest friends, Joanne Postlewait and Tom and Karen Barry, who provided much companionship and support, particularly as Bob's health gradually declined.
Catholic mass will be held on Monday, November 25 at 10:00 AM at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Shawnee, Kansas, followed by inurnment at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas. Flowers and/or donations may be sent to Good Shepherd Catholic Church. For those of you who wish to participate but cannot attend in-person, the service will be streamed via the Good Shepherd Facebook page and/or Father O'Connor's YouTube Channel.
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