Bernard "Bernie" L. Bayer

Bernard Louis Bayer died on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at home and at peace. Bernie was born on May 5, 1945, at Ferrell Hospital in Eldorado, Illinois, the third son of Martha Manetta Muenstermann, a homemaker and saint, and Frank Leo Bayer, a farmer. Bernie grew up on the Muenstermann family farm north of Equality, Illinois, with four brothers and four sisters. He was baptized, confirmed, and served as an altar boy at St. Joseph Church. He attended Equality schools (reluctantly), where he played basketball as a proud Equality Cardinal.

In 1964 he married Sharon Sue Rich and produced his first crop, Lisa and Mark. Bernie farmed with his father-in-law, Kenneth Rich, south of Shawneetown, then worked at Peabody Eagle 1 coal mine before returning to farming in Equality. On August 14, 1976, he married the love of his life, Mona Williams. They welcomed their precious daughter, Jarah Jillian, in 1990. A born entrepreneur and hard worker, Bernie built an impressive farming, livestock, excavation, and sawmill operation in southeastern Illinois, never fully retiring.

He was a member of Equality Presbyterian Church and a lifelong Democrat, serving as Gallatin County chairman. He was Equality Township Road Commissioner for 22 years, a board member of Egyptian Health, and a member of Gallatin County Farm Bureau, VFW Post #3479, and American Legion Post #595. Bernie loved watching the St. Louis Cardinals and Georgia Bulldogs, playing pool, collecting vintage cars, frequenting buffets, and traveling. With his kids and their families, he celebrated his 80th birthday in May with an Alaska cruise. In recent years he had moved to Evansville, IN, where he was welcomed and cared for by Jarah, her husband, Alex, and grandsons Crew and Leo.

Bernie was predeceased by his parents, wife Mona, mother- and father-in-law Leah and Bob Williams, and brother Michael. He is survived by his children, Lisa (John Gehner) of Athens, GA, Mark (Pamela) of Charleston, IL, and Jarah Scates (Alex) of Evansville, IN; grandchildren Jackson Bayer (Sabrina), Addie Gladu (Robbie), Ashlyn Robison (Ethan), Ayla Gehner-Price (Eric), Lil Gehner, Wyatt Gehner, Crew Scates, and Leo Scates; great-grandchildren Pine Gehner-Price, Wren and Sunny Gladu, and Cora and Bonnie Robison; brothers Carl (Mabel), Richard (Peggy), and James (Liz) and sisters Martha Glover, Joann Lovell (Kenny), Donna Gwaltney (Terry), and Linda Bayer; beloved sister- and brother-in-law Janice and Billy Lane, and more than 40 nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and other family members.

At this precarious time in our country, you can honor Bernie’s memory by helping someone in need or making a donation to a charity working to help others.