Cochranton, PA - John Bauer, 74, of Cochranton passed away Monday June 30, 2025 at Meadville Medical Center after a short illness. He was born on October 18, 1950 in Franklin Hospital, Franklin, PA; a son of Raymond and Anita (Hasson) Bauer. John graduated from Cochranton High School in 1968. He married Kathleen "Kathy" Severa on January 24, 1976.

John was a member of the Carpenters Union and was employed with various construction companies. In 1986, he was employed by Crawford Central School District as a carpenter and later was the Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds and also Food Service and Transportation. John retired from the school district in 2007.

John was a member of the former Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church in Cochranton, PA. He was a devoted member of the EMS community in Cochranton and Western PA and was a life time member of the Cochranton Fire Department which he joined in 1968. He was a member of the first EMT class in Crawford County and a member of the Crawford/Venango Fire School committee; where he was a past president. John's true passion was an instructor with the PA State Fire Academy. In 2016, He was recognized as Instructor Emeritus after teaching 25+ years at county fire schools and departments throughout western Pennsylvania. John wrote the curriculum through Pennsylvania State University for Ag Rescue. He served as EMA coordinator for Cochranton Boro and also served on the Crawford County Local Emergency Planning Committee. John was a school bus vehicle rescue response instructor. He also was licensed as a firework technician with Zambelli's Fireworks.

John loved spending time at the family camp, "Dad's Dream" in Leeper, PA with his family and lifelong friends from Tionesta. He enjoyed traveling with friends and went on many bus trips and cruises during his retirement years. In the last 5 years, he loved traveling in the winter months to visit his daughter in Jacksonville, Florida.

If you knew John, you knew he always had a joke or a story to tell; he was rarely serious and loved to make people laugh.

He is survived by his daughter, Andrea Bauer, Jacksonville, FL, nieces and nephews; Robert (Kim) (Debbie) Legnosky, Cochranton, PA, Donald (Sonja) Bauer, Cochranton, PA, Deanna (Shawn) Buttray, NC and David (Nicole) Bauer of Meadville, PA; his great nephew Justin Short and great nieces Rachel Bauer and Alyssa Hunter and also several great-great nieces and nephews. He is further survived by his companion Leslie Dye, Cochranton and her son, Mike (Lisa) Dye, Stoneboro, PA and Leslie's grandchildren, Owen and Ella Dye, Stoneboro, PA.

In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his wife Kathy in 2006. Also preceding him were his brother Donald Bauer and his sister-in-law Linda Bauer, and Leslie's son Matthew Dye.

Friends and family may attend visitation on Saturday, July 5 from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm and also from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Dickson Family Funeral Home, INC., 123 South Franklin Street, Cochranton PA. A fire department service will be held at 1:00 pm on Sunday, July 6 followed by a funeral service at 2:00 pm at the funeral home with Rev. Curt Brenizer presiding.

Memorials can be made in John's name to the Cochranton Volunteer Fire Department, 113 E. Adams Street, Cochranton, PA 16314 or the Crawford/Venango County Fire School, C/O Justin Sullivan 33579 S. Main Street, Townville, PA 16360.