Obituary of Donald C. Baer, Sr.

Donald C. Baer, Sr.

Donald C. Baer, Sr., age 89, of Millcreek Twp., died on Monday, November 19, 2018 at UPMC-Hamot.

Don was born on September 15, 1929, in Erie, the son of the late Elmer “Ted” and Mary Frances Ida Baer and step-son of the late Margaret Baer.  He graduated from Academy H.S. Class of 1947.  Don served his country in the US Army during the Korean War as a medic.  On December 2, 1950, he married Patricia Peterson.  In 1955 he purchased real estate on West 26^th St. and Peninsula Drive and opened a Texaco gas station.  From that location he and his wife Pat, served the Millcreek Twp. community for many years as Baer’s Trailer Sales until 1990.  A true “jack of all trades and master of none”, Don sold Skamper pop-up campers and trailers, truck caps, and trailer hitches.  He had one of the first semiautomatic car washes in Millcreek Twp. and owned one of the first U-Haul fleets.

An avid water skier, Don bravely skied on Presque Isle Bay one year as soon as the ice began to clear.  He also loved NASCAR and attended the Daytona 500 for over thirty years.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his life partner and love of his life, Patricia, one grandson Brian Reed, two brothers; Richard and Kenneth Baer.

He is survived by his four daughters: Connie Reed (Dean) of Greer, SC, Dianne Collier of Jacksonville, FL, Carol Bell (Peter) of Barrington, RI, Susan DeFazio (John) of Erie, two sons; Donald Baer, Jr. (Tanya) of Goochland, VA, Scott Baer (Sarah) of Barrington, RI, grandchildren: Timothy Schaefer (Lisa), Erin Schaefer (Amy), Nicholas Reed, Ryan Collier, Allyn Byrd (Jonathan), Michael and Audrey Bell, Michelle Browning (Benjamin), Stephanie, Oliver, Matson, and Molly Baer, Brynn Massie (Michael), Ian, Trevor, and Rory DeFazio, Jonathan and Michaela Baer, great-grandchildren: Christopher Mukina (Dan), TJ, Malachi, and Ty Schaefer, Charlotte Collier, one brother, Robert Baer (Christie), one sister, Betty Jane Baer, one sister-in-law, Kathleen Baer, and many nieces and nephews.

At the wishes of the family there will be no calling hours.  The Dusckas-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., 4216 Sterrettania Rd. is handling arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Blended Spirits Equine-Assisted Therapy Center, 7401 McCray Road, Fairview, PA 16415 in Don’s memory.