Curt J. Baier

Curt J. Baier, 92, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2017, at home surrounded by his family.

Curt was born in Switzerland on January 9, 1925, the son of Walter and Emma Baier-Keller. At the outbreak of the war in Europe in 1939, he joined the local militia at the age of 14 as its youngest member. Militia members were equipped by the army and trained by retired officers. He later was drafted and served in the Swiss Army during World War II.

Curt received most of his education in Switzerland and England. He immigrated to the United States in 1949 and applied for and received his U.S. citizenship in 1956. After living and working in New York City, he moved to Aspen, Colorado, where he was a controller for the various enterprises of Walter P. Paepcke, the founder of this resort community. Curt met his wife of 64 years, Carla (nee Haines), in Aspen where she was a student at the Aspen Music Festival. They married in Chicago in 1953.

Curt subsequently became a Certified Public Accountant and spent several years with a national firm of CPAs. Curt and his family then moved to Appleton where he became a partner in the firm of Schumaker, Haas, Baier and Riedl, and its successor firm, Schumaker, Romensko, and Associates, SC. He was proud to serve many of his clients for nearly 40 years, not only in Wisconsin, but in many other states and overseas. He was recognized by the Wisconsin Society of Certified Public Accountants for his 50 years as a member, and was awarded an honorary membership in the American Institute of CPAs.

Curt was active for many years in various community organizations, especially United Way, serving as Board Member, Treasurer, Program Chairman, and in other capacities. He was an early member of the Advisory Committee of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. He was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Appleton West and the Rotary Club of Appleton-West Foundation Inc. and was recognized by his fellow club members with a Paul Harris Fellowship.

Curt liked to cook original Swiss recipes, particularly Swiss Cheese Fondue and Fish Stew from the Canton of Vaud. These recipes have been passed down to his children and grandchildren, and fondue on Christmas Eve is a Baier family tradition. Curt was an avid walker, and his favorite companion was his dog, Sam. When queried about their daily morning walking route, he would joke: “Sam and I had a beer at the corner tavern and threw peanut shells on the floor”. Who knows? Maybe the two of them can do it now!

Curt is survived by his spouse, Carla, and four children – Linda Baier, Madison, WI; Mark (Cynthia) Baier, Lakeville, MN; Claudia (Thomas Jackson) Baier, Western Springs, IL; Leslie (Clifton Bogardus III) Baier, Phoenix, AZ – and seven grandchildren: Matthew and Marissa Manwell, Alexandra and Haylee Baier, Lauren and Jordin Frasch, and Aleksa Jackson.

Curt was preceded in death by his brother, Urs Baier, and his sister, Loni Wegmann-Baier, both in Switzerland.

In accordance with Curt's wishes, a private family memorial service will be held at Wichmann-Fargo funeral home with burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for United Way Fox Cities. Condolences may be expressed at www.wichmannfargo.com