Baer, Lowell F. (1912-2009)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2009 Mar 2 p. 13

Birth date: 1912 May 28

text of obituary:

LOWELL BAER

Lowell F. Baer, 96, of Sterling, Ill., died Jan. 16, 2009. He was born May 28, 1912.

He married Dorothy Musgrave on Jan. 16, 1937. She preceded him in death on Nov. 22, 1996.

He was educated in the Sterling schools. He was employed by Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. for 41 years before retiring in 1975.

He was an active member of Science Ridge Mennonite Church of Sterling, serving in leadership roles. In 1977, he was ordained as a lay minister, serving in Illinois prisons, and as interim pastor at the Christian Church in Polo. He served as a volunteer minister in area nursing homes and church services and for those who had no pastor.

His hobbies included exhibiting Wyandotte chickens at poultry shows. He was a charter member of Rock River Racing Pigeon Club and served on various committees in the community.

Survivors include his wife, Lee Gowan Baer, whom he married on April 19, 1998; five daughters, Barbara Ebersole and her husband, James, of Aurora, Judith Long and her husband, Leonard, of Sterling, Beth Shank and her husband, Philip, of Wellman, Iowa, Dorothy Ulrich and her husband, David, of Denver, Colo., and Lila Miller and her husband, Edward, of Wauseon, Ohio; two stepdaughters, Judy Repass and her husband, Curtis, of Rock Falls, and June Sullivan and her husband, Donald, of Sandwich; 18 grandchildren; six step-grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at Science Ridge Mennonite Church. Burial was in Science Ridge Mennonite Cemetery.