Jon Baisden

Jon Baisden passed away unexpectedly on February 24th. He was 56. Jon attended Broad Ripple High School, Purdue University, and graduated from ITT Tech with a heating and air degree. He was a rare breed: intelligent, excellent with math, and good with his hands. His baritone voice was unmistakable. He worked as a heating and air tech, a computer coder in advanced circuit board manufacturing, and, finally, as a mechanic.

Jon never failed to help when family called, and aided his neighbors with everything from their vehicles to neighborhood cookouts. He was a tinkerer from a very early age, and enjoyed building rockets which he would set off from the Haverford Little League fields. In his teens, he moved on to bicycles, setting up a repair and rebuild shop in the family garage which was frequented by many neighborhood children. He continued this throughout his adult life, working on all kinds of cars, machines, and 3-D puzzles. He was an excellent problem solver across many fields, from car engines to delicate circuitry. He enjoyed reading and was widely read, ranging from fiction to technical manuals. He shared his vast knowledge, along with his infectious laughter and all his love, with his family.

Jon was born in 1964 in Williamson, West Virginia, on both his great-grandfather's birthday and Thanksgiving Day. He was a doted-upon only child and grandchild until the arrival of cousins galore and his younger sister Rachel, who survives him. His mother, Diana Baisden, survives him also. He was a devoted uncle to his surviving nieces, Katherine and Madchen.

Jon was smart, giving, and above all, blessed with a well-honed sense of humor and a booming laugh. He will be dearly missed by family and friends.