Baer, Jacob A. (1872-1947)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Sep p. 3

Birth date: 1872 Jun 2, Troy, Illinois
Date of Death: 1947 September 16, Breeze, Illinois

text of obituary:

JACOB A. BAER

Jacob A. Baer, son of the late Jacob and Elizabeth Langenwalter Baer, was born in the Black Jack community in Madison county, Illinois, on June 2, 1872, and passed away on September 16, 1947, at 7:45 a.m. at St. Joseph's hospital in Breeze, Illinois, at the age of 75 years, three months, and 14 days.

In 1880, in order to be nearer their church, he and his parents settled on a farm two miles south of Summerfield which his father had purchased for the family home and which is still his family estate today. He was baptized and received into the fellowship of the Summerfield Mennonite church by Rev. Jacob E. Krehbiel on June 7, 1885, and remained a faithful worker in its various offices until is death.

On January 22, 1902, he was united in marriage with Myrtha Pletscher and they established their home on the same farm to which he had come as a boy. They were permitted to share life's joys and sorrows for the greater part of 46 years.

They made their home on the farm until August of 1938, when they moved to New Baden where he engaged in truck farming. At the same time, he never lost his deep interest in the farm which he loved so much. During his years on the farm, this keen interest led him to take an active part in establishing farm organizations which he believed would help better the lot of his neighbors and all those engaged in this chosen work. He was a charter member of the St. Clair County Farm Bureau and was president of its board of directors for many years. At the time of his death, he was president of the Summerfield Farmers Cooperative Grain Company, an office which he had held for over 20 years.

Four children came to bless this home, of whom three survive, one having died in infancy. Besides his widow, he leaves three sons, Donald, residing on the home farm, Lester of New Baden, and Orville of Trenton; three daughters-in-law, Marie, Wylette, and Mabel Baer; two grandchildren, Harvey and Beth Ann Baer, besides many nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends. All his brothers and sisters preceded him in death.

Funeral services which were largely attended, were held at the Mennonite church on Friday afternoon. They were in charge of his pastor, Rev. Elmer Basinger, who spoke on "The Triumphant or Victorious Life," based on Revelation 3:12. Interment was made in the Summerfield cemetery.

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MLA Personal Photos Collection

Biographical note:
Troy/Trenton, Illinois
Son of Jacob E. and Anna Elizabeth (Langenwalter) Baer
Married Myrtha Jenny Pletscher 1902 January 22, Trenton, Illinois
Farmer -- Trenton, Illinois

Bethel alumni note:

Photo holdings:
Individual (as youth) -- Lebanon, Illinois (from H.R. Voth photo album, indentification provided by Marion Ruth 1988)
With wife -- Lebanon, Illinois (from Karolyn Kaufman Zerger 1988)

Sources:
Hirschler, Altlein, Krebills p. 215
Ruth's Pletscher Gen. No. 125
Ruth's Baer … Strohm Fam. Baer 116
Grandma Profile #781581