1929 - 2019
LAURENS – Herbert E. Baumann, 90, of Laurens, passed away after a brief illness early Sunday morning, December 22, 2019, surrounded by love and a loving family at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.
Born September 19, 1929, in Garfield, New Jersey, he was a son of Herbert Paul and Elsie (Kinscher) Baumann. He first attended schools in Paramus and later Paterson, New Jersey. He left high school and worked for a time as a machinist for John Johnston in Paramus. On May 22, 1951, he joined the military, and served with the United States Army 12th Infantry in Germany during the Korean War. Corporal Baumann was Honorably Discharged from the military on May 7, 1953, and returned home to New Jersey.
On April 24, 1954, he married Eleanor Diani in a ceremony at Most Holy Name Roman Catholic Church in Garfield, New Jersey.
In March of 1956, Herbert was hired by Public Service Electric & Gas Company (PSE&G) in Newark, New Jersey, and was employed as an electrical lineman, working out of a substation in Hackensack. During this time he became a member of the 25-year club, was a recipient of a suggestion award, and received the “turtle club” safety award in July of 1971 for having been hit on the head on the job and his life saved by his hard hat. He retired in March 1991.
In 1982, Herbert and Eleanor began coming to Hartwick and eventually lived on Lipton Road. They later moved to South Carolina, but moved back to New York State in November 2010 and settled in Laurens.
He was a member-at-large of the American Legion and the Laurens Senior Citizen Group.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Eleanor Baumann of Laurens; a daughter, Judy Gruchacz of Hartwick; a son, Herbert P. Baumann and wife, Lesia, of Knob Noster, Missouri; four grandchildren, Jacquelyn Gruchacz, and Jesse, Jill E. and Brittany Baumann; and a brother, Walter W. Baumann and wife, Ellen (“Penny”) of Laurens.
He was predeceased by a brother, Richard Baumann.
A graveside service of committal and burial will be offered at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 19, 2020, in the Hartwick Cemetery in Hartwick, with the Rev. Paul R. Messner, S.T.S., pastor of St. Matthew Lutheran Church in Laurens, officiating. Military Honors will be accorded by members of the Cooperstown Veterans Club and the New York State Military Forces Honor Guard.
Arrangements are under the care and guidance of the Connell, Dow & Deysenroth Funeral Home in Cooperstown.
If you would like to send condolences to the family, send an email to Connell, Dow & Deysenroth. We will forward your comments to the family. If you would like to send flowers in memory of the deceased, contact Mohican Flowers at (607) 547-8822, or A Rose is a Rose at (607) 264-3100.
