Our Staff
Jack Bauer
John W. ("Jack") Bauer
Owner, Funeral Director
John W. ("Jack") Bauer, the owner and president of Bauer Family Funeral Homes, has been in funeral service for nearly 40 years. He established the Bauer Family generational tradition when he joined his father, Amby, in the family business in 1970.
A life long resident of Kittanning, Jack graduated from Kittanning Senior High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from West Virginia Wesleyan College and is a graduate of the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science.
Jack has been extremely active in the community serving on the founding Board of Directors of the Fort Armstrong Folk Festival, as a member and past president of the Greater Kittanning Jaycees and as a long-time member of the Kittanning Rotary Club. He also served on the Armstrong County Memorial Hospital Board of Directors and is a member of the Kittanning/East Brady Masonic Lodge #244. A dedicated supporter of the YMCA, Jack served on the Armstrong County YMCA Board of Directors for 20 years and is currently a trustee.
He also had the privilege of serving on the Selected Independent Funeral Homes Board of Directors and was elected president of that international organization in 1996. Jack continues his long association with that group of independently owned funeral homes along with memberships in the National Funeral Directors Association and Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association.
Jack and his wife, Sue, are both members and Elders of Grace Presbyterian Church in Kittanning.
They enjoy sailing, golf, gardening and spending time with their growing family.
Jennifer Bauer Eroh
Jennifer Bauer Eroh
Funeral Director
As the daughter of Jack and Sue Bauer, Jennifer Bauer Eroh represents the third generation to continue the Bauer Family tradition of funeral service. She is a licensed funeral director who graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science in 1998 with a diploma in Funeral Service. Jennifer is also a graduate of Kittanning High School and a 1997 graduate of Westminster College from which she holds a degree in Public Relations. Jennifer is an active member of the Selected Independent Funeral Directors organization and is a member of the National Funeral Directors Association along with the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association. Jennifer and her husband Jason reside in the Worthington area with their daughter and are expecting their second child.
Deana R. Turner
Deana R. Turner
Funeral Director
Deana Turner is the newest addition to the Bauer Family Funeral Home staff. A native of the area, she is a graduate of Karns City High School and Carlow University where she earned a degree with cum laude honors in Communication and Finance Management. Deana continued her education at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, receiving an Associate’s degree in Funeral Service Arts and Sciences. She resides in Chicora with her husband, John, and their two daughters, Sydney and Peyton.
Deana’s professional memberships include the National Funeral Directors Association, Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and the Butler County Funeral Directors Association, where she presently serves in the capacity of Vice President and at the state level on the Funeral Service Technology Committee. She is very active in the Parent-Teacher Organization within the school district her children attend, as well as Board Treasurer for the Karns City Area Football Association and assistant soccer coach with the Butler County Soccer Association. Deana is also an adjunct instructor with the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Distance Learning program, teaching several courses to future funeral service professionals. As her family comes first, they enjoys spending time together and boating on the Allegheny River.
Joshua C. Starr
Joshua C. Starr
Funeral Intern
A native of the Kittanning area, Josh joined the staff at Bauer Family Funeral Homes after having worked part-time in funeral service since the age of fifteen. Josh has completed his mortuary training at the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science and is currently licensed with the state of Pennsylvania as a Funeral Intern.
A 2006 graduate of Kittanning Senior High School, Josh pursued his Funeral Director’s License through the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science, where he received a diploma in funeral directing and embalming in addition to an associate’s degree in Funeral Service Management. He then furthered his education at Point Park University where he achieved a Bachelors of Business Administration with Specialized Professional Studies in Funeral Service and a Minor in psychology.
As a student member, Josh actively participates in the activities of both the National Funeral Directors Association and the American Society of Embalmers. Josh currently resides in Kittanning. In his free time Josh enjoys activities with his family and friends, vacationing and attending theatrical productions. Although winter is his favorite season, Josh also enjoys outdoor gatherings and boating during the summer months.
Tammy Carson
Tammy Carson
Office Manager
Tammy Carson joined the Bauer Funeral Home in May 2007 as office manager. She is a graduate of Freeport High School and then attended Bradford School of Pittsburgh where she received a diploma in secretarial/medical terminology. After working in an office environment for 17 years, she decided to continue her education at Newport Business Institute, graduating in 2007, with an Associate in Specialized Business Degree with her major in Accounting. She resides in Cadogan with her husband, Doug, and two sons, Brandon and Tyler.
She is actively involved with her children’s sports events and enjoys vacationing at the beach with her family.
Sandra Mikita
Sandra Mikita
Community Relations Manager
With nearly two decades of service to Kittanning and surrounding communities’ families, Sandra Mikita joined the Bauer Family Funeral Home team in 1991. As the Community Relations Manager for the funeral home working with families, clergy and the public, Sandra coordinates the many special projects that are offered by our funeral homes including the annual Holiday Remembrance Program, the Senior Expo presentation, and the Adopt-a-Highway Project. She also conducts presentations on numerous topics throughout the year to churches, schools, social clubs, and groups. In addition to her community service functions, Sandra serves our families with follow-up care contacts throughout the year following their loss and in the capacity of life insurance liaison. As the recipient of numerous national awards from the Monumental Life Insurance Company, Sandra’s outstanding performance as a licensed life insurance agent was recognized when she was awarded the prestigious Robert G. Gutherie Award acknowledging her exceptional talent, integrity and high level of personal responsibility within the insurance industry in 1996 and again in 2002. An experienced and knowledgeable designer of cemetery memorial monuments, she capably represents Custom Design Monuments, an affiliate of the Bauer Funeral Home, Inc., in the design and production of personalized memorial tributes for the families we humbly serve.
Ralph Funkhouser
Ralph Funkhouser
Grounds and Maintenance
Ralph has been maintaining the grounds, buildings and vehicles for Bauer Family Funeral Homes since 1993. He also sets grave vaults for our families and assists the funeral directors during funeral services. Ralph can always be counted on to go the extra mile to make sure every detail is taken care of for the families we serve. When not at work, Ralph enjoys hunting and fishing with his son and friends.
Ralph is a resident of East Franklin Township where he lives with his wife and son.
