Edgar Elder Baer Obituary (1930 - 2014)

Edgar Elder Baer, 83 of Harristown, passed away at 7:20 a.m., Monday, May 19, 2014, in Fair Havens Christian Home. A service to celebrate Edgar's life will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 23, 2014, at Dawson & Wikoff West Wood Street Funeral Home with Steve Gambrill officiating. Edgar will be laid to rest in the Harristown Township Cemetery with military honors provided by the US Army Honors Team. The family will receive friends for a time of visitation beginning at 12:00 Noon Friday until service time at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in his memory to Decatur Habitat for Humanity or the Good Samaritan Inn or Arbor Day Foundation or Macon County Honor Guard. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family at www.dawson-wikoff.com. Edgar was born August 23, 1930 in Christian County, IL the son of Virgil E. and Cora (Elder) Baer. He was a retired farmer and was the third generation to farm the C.E. Milnes Farm in Harristown Township. He also was retired from Decatur Wilbert Vault Company after 45 years of service to the vault company. He had served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955. He was a member of the Harristown Christian Church where he had served as a Deacon and as an Elder for almost 60 years. He was a life-time Master Mason of Summit Masonic Lodge #431. Edgar married Maryilynn St. John on July 17, 1955 in the Maroa Presbyterian Church. Surviving is his wife: Maryilynn of Harristown; son: Mark Baer and his wife Dawn of Decatur; daughter Dianne Endrizzi and her special friend Jeff Williams of Decatur; grandson: Justin Baer and his wife Cheryl of Decatur; granddaughter: Melissa Baer of Mt. Zion; Sister: Joan Smith of Decatur; nephew and niece: John and Cindy Christerson. Edgar was preceded in death by his parents, sisters: Virginia Baer and Mary Christerson; and his brothers-in-law: Nick Smith and Wally St. John.