Bradley Wilford Baumeister, age 96, passed peacefully at his home on Thursday morning, April 4, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bradley was born in York, Pennsylvania on September 28, 1927 to the late Charles Earl and Elizabeth Columbia (Bond) Baumeister.
When Bradley's mother was a left a widow in 1933, she had four small children to care for - one of whom had health issues - during the Great Depression. On August 18, 1938, Bradley was taken to the Milton Hershey Industrial School (now known as the Milton Hershey School) in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Bradley graduated on June 4, 1945 from the school, which was founded by Hershey candy maker, Milton S. Hershey. Bradley developed life-long friendships from the school and was always grateful for the opportunities he received while attending the school. After graduating from the Hershey Industrial School, Bradley enlisted in, what was then, the Army-Air Force and served during World War II and the Korean War in the Corps of Engineers. Brad graduated from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh and on June 13, 1953, he married Grace Margaretta Zischkau in Turtle Creek. After their marriage, they lived in Roanoke, Virginia for several years where Bradley worked as an architect for Hays, Seay, Mattern & Mattern. Brad, Grace and their 2 daughters then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where Bradley worked for Auble-Mitchell-Burgess & Associates as an architect, and also A.M. Kinney Associates. Bradley went on to receive a Master's Degree at the University of Cincinnati, where he also worked for many years as a campus planner in their Campus Planning and Construction Department. In 1974, after four children and 21 years of marriage, Bradley and Grace's marriage ended in divorce. In February 1982, Bradley remarried for a second time which lasted the rest of his life. In his retirement years, Brad also worked at the Blue Ash YMCA and also the Hamilton County Park District. Bradley was a loving father who would take his children, in their younger days, on picnics or to the parks to play or water-color. He was the best father a person could ever wish for. Anyone who knew him knew of his laid-back manner and sense of humor. No matter what life threw at him, he seemed to take it all in stride.
Besides being predeceased by his parents, his brother Wendell Baumeister and sister Eileen (late Harold) Barthel, Bradley was also predeceased by his ex-wife, Grace M. Baumeister. A niece, Pamela (Barthel) Parr, predeceased him in 2001. Bradley is survived by his daughters Betsy (Michael) Osoffsky, Ellie Sartorius, Laura Baumeister (Don McKinney) and son Bill (Monica) Baumeister. He also leaves 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandsons, nieces, nephews and an assortment of other family members and friends. All those left behind will forever cherish his memory and miss him terribly.
If desired, Mr. Baumeister asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to either The Wounded Warrior Project or Hospice of Cincinnati.
Bradley Wilford Baumeister, age 96, passed peacefully at his home on Thursday morning, April 4, 2024 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Bradley was born in York, Pennsylvania on September 28, 1927 to the late Charles Earl and Elizabeth Columbia (Bond) Baumeister.
When Bradley's mother was a left a widow in 1933, she had four small children to care for - one of whom had health issues - during the Great Depression. On August 18, 1938, Bradley was taken to the Milton Hershey Industrial School (now known as the Milton Hershey School) in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Bradley graduated on June 4, 1945 from the school, which was founded by Hershey candy maker, Milton S. Hershey. Bradley developed life-long friendships from the school and was always grateful for the opportunities he received while attending the school. After graduating from the Hershey Industrial School, Bradley enlisted in, what was then, the Army-Air Force and served during World War II and the Korean War in the Corps of Engineers. Brad graduated from Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh and on June 13, 1953, he married Grace Margaretta Zischkau in Turtle Creek. After their marriage, they lived in Roanoke, Virginia for several years where Bradley worked as an architect for Hays, Seay, Mattern & Mattern. Brad, Grace and their 2 daughters then moved to Cincinnati, Ohio where Bradley worked for Auble-Mitchell-Burgess & Associates as an architect, and also A.M. Kinney Associates. Bradley went on to receive a Master's Degree at the University of Cincinnati, where he also worked for many years as a campus planner in their Campus Planning and Construction Department. In 1974, after four children and 21 years of marriage, Bradley and Grace's marriage ended in divorce. In February 1982, Bradley remarried for a second time which lasted the rest of his life. In his retirement years, Brad also worked at the Blue Ash YMCA and also the Hamilton County Park District. Bradley was a loving father who would take his children, in their younger days, on picnics or to the parks to play or water-color. He was the best father a person could ever wish for. Anyone who knew him knew of his laid-back manner and sense of humor. No matter what life threw at him, he seemed to take it all in stride.
Besides being predeceased by his parents, his brother Wendell Baumeister and sister Eileen (late Harold) Barthel, Bradley was also predeceased by his ex-wife, Grace M. Baumeister. A niece, Pamela (Barthel) Parr, predeceased him in 2001. Bradley is survived by his daughters Betsy (Michael) Osoffsky, Ellie Sartorius, Laura Baumeister (Don McKinney) and son Bill (Monica) Baumeister. He also leaves 5 grandchildren and 2 great-grandsons, nieces, nephews and an assortment of other family members and friends. All those left behind will forever cherish his memory and miss him terribly.
If desired, Mr. Baumeister asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to either The Wounded Warrior Project or Hospice of Cincinnati.
Gravesite Details
Burial of cremains to be conducted at a later date.
