Charles Baer, 86

Charles F. Baer, 86, of Marine died on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016 at Faith Care Center in Highland.

A funeral service was held on Monday, Feb. 15 at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland, with the Rev. Philip H. Kershner, pastor of United Church of Christ of Marine, officiating. Burial was in Highland City Cemetery.

He was born on March 29, 1929 in Trenton to August A. and Anna M. (Strubhart) Baer. On March 26, 1968, he married Florence I. Keller. She survives in Marine.

At age 13, Mr. Baer moved to Highland. He helped with the family farm, north of Highland, and had numerous jobs. He worked at Highland Supply, Drda Electric, and Emerson Electric. In the early 1960s, he started working as a carpenter. He worked as a carpenter until he retired at age 62. He did home repairs in his retirement. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, working in his yard. He was a “private, quiet man.”

He was a member of the Carpenters Union and the Woodmen of the World. He was a former member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland.

Other survivors include daughters, Patricia A. (Steven) May of St. Jacob, Victoria M. Eagen of Forest Lake, Minn., Geralyn M. (Scott) Kaufman of Highland, Jo Ann M. (Jeff) Sherman of Mount Pleasant, Wis., and Diane L. (Michael) Dauk of Vadnais Heights, Minn.; sons, Glenn C. (Martha) Baer of Creve Coeur, Mo., James G. (Linda L.) Baer of Highland and William H. (Marla) Baer of Highland; a step-daughter, Janet L. (significant other, Dennis) Huene of Edwardsville; numerous grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; several great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Elmer Baer of Edwardsville; and a sister, Bertha Lindley of Granite City.

He was preceded in death by his father, who died on Sept. 25, 1967; his mother, who died on Sept. 7, 1979; a step-daughter, Florence J. King; grandchildren, Michelle Lynn Busch, who died on Aug. 17, 1972, and Todd J. Baer, who died on July 31, 2004; a great-great-grandchild, Caide Alan Brown, who died on March 18, 2015; brothers, Herbert Baer, who died on April 22, 1991, Joseph Baer, who died on May 4, 1987, Alphonse Baer, who died on Aug. 1, 1981, and Aloys Baer, who died on July 9, 1993; sisters, Irene Hoffman, who died on Jan. 10, 2003, Amelia Langel, who died on Sept. 19, 1999, Dorothy Smith and Gertrude Lampe; and his first wife, Louise B. Baer (nee Schoemaker), who died in November 2005, (their marriage ended in divorce).

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Southern Illinois or United Church of Christ of Marine.

This story was originally published February 15, 2016 at 7:35 AM with the headline "Charles Baer, 86."