WABASH – Don E. Baer, 90, Warren, formerly of Wabash, died at 7:20 p.m. Feb. 18, 2016, at Heritage Pointe, Warren, where he had lived since 2001, coming from Barbee Lake. He was born April 28, 1925, in Urbana, to Forrest G. and Eva S. Cripe Baer. On Feb. 4, 1950, in Lafayette, he married Barbara A. Condra, who survives in Warren. He was a 1943 graduate of Wabash High School. He was a pilot in the Army Air Corps during World War II, flying B-24s and B-25s. He received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University in 1950, where he played football, was on the boxing team and was a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. He also was a life member of the Purdue University Alumni Association and the John Purdue Club. He was a school teacher, coach, administrator, and athletic director. He taught seven years at Salamonie Township, Huntington County, and 28 years at Wabash City Schools. He also was a former director of Wabash Community Service, a former superintendent of the Wabash City Parks Department, and was a substitute teacher until the age of 80. He was a former member of the Wabash First United Methodist Church, the First United Methodist Church, Warsaw, and the Solid Rock United Methodist Church, Warren. He was a 70-year member of the American Legion, a longtime member of the Wabash Elks Lodge, the Indiana State Teachers Association and a former member of the American Red Cross, where he taught swimming and life-saving courses for 37 years. Also surviving are three children: Michael (and spouse Michele) Baer, Sebastian, Fla.; Donna K (and spuose Max) Highley, Wabash; Joseph (and spouse Kathy) Baer, Fort Wayne; seven grandchildren: G Forrest Baer, Boulder, Colo.; Morgan (and spouse Marla) Baer, Delray Beach, Fla.; Jill (and spouse Kevin) DuBois, Muncie; Eric (and spouse Melissa) Highley, Goshen; Alex Baer and Kalah Baer, both of Fort Wayne; Jordan (and spouse Sydney) Baer, Mount Vernon, Ohio; two sisters, Lola Glazier, Wabash, and Anna Lee (and spouse Raymond) Christle, West Lafayette; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Grandstaff-Hentgen Funeral Service, Wabash, with David Phillips officiating. Family will receive friends from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. ***** Memorials to Wabash High School Athletic Department, Purdue Research Foundation R.O. Papenguth Fund (Swimming), or Wabash American Legion Post 15. The memorial guest book for Don may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.
