Peter Anthony Baran

Peter Anthony Baran, 82, of Glendale, Arizona, formerly of Cleveland, Ohio, passed away Sunday, November 8, 2015 after a long illness. Peter was born March 12, 1933. He was the 12th and youngest child of Michalina and Anthony “Tony” Baran, immigrants from Poland. Peter spent his childhood on a farm off Shadeland Road in Conneautville, Pennsylvania.

Growing up in the Great Depression was hard. Holidays on the farm consisted of sugar on bread for a treat, and a nickel on Christmas as a present. As life on the farm grew harder, the family eventually moved to Cleveland to work in the city.

In 1953, at 20 years of age, Peter enlisted in the US Army, and served in Korea. With rank of Sgt. he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal and was honorably discharged after serving three years of active duty. While on a leave, his brother Frank introduced him to a bookkeeper he worked with, Betty Jane France.

Betty Jane was the love of Peter’s life and they corresponded the remainder of his tour. They were married shortly after his return on March 2, 1957.

Peter enjoyed airplanes and took lessons at Horns Flying School in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. However, with the needs of his family first, he put his flying dreams on hold.

Married life was hard for the couple. With little money and several small children, they lived with Peter’s parents for awhile until they could save up enough money for a down-payment on a house in Parma. It was there that he and Betty Jane raised four girls, and a beloved dog Tiger.

Only after his family was grown and he had retired, did he realize his life-long dream to obtain a pilot’s license and own his own plane. He spent a majority of his early retirement with Betty flying all over Phoenix in a 2-seater Cessna.

Peter worked different occupations throughout the years mainly focusing on machinist and heavy equipment and diesel mechanic positions. He was known as a jack of all trades and there wasn’t anything he couldn’t do. He enjoyed making things with his own hands and had a creative mind. Not only did he have the ability to paint beautiful pictures, but he could also play the guitar.

Peter lived a simple yet full life. He was a family man. He was caring, compassionate, sensitive, generous, creative and kind.

Peter leaves behind 4 daughters, Patty, Kathy, Linda and Nancy, 3 sons-in law, Jerry, Bob, and J.R, and 6 grandchildren, Scott, Steven, Kevin, Matthew, Robert and Chelsea and 1 great-grandson, Caden. He was preceded in death, by his wife Betty Jane, and grand-daughter Megan; he will be greatly missed.