Father of Harvard man, Bare Hill Pond fisherman
Milton Baer. (Courtesy photo)
Milton F. “Bush” Baer, 87, of Clinton, died on Sunday, April 1, 2012 in the same home that he was born in, surrounded by his loving family, after an illness.
He leaves his wife of 64 years, Ruth L. (O’Malley) Baer; two sons: David Baer and his wife, Karen of Princeton; and Jeffrey Baer and his wife, Brenda of Harvard; a daughter, Cynthia Baer of Clinton; three grandchildren: Kristin, Michael and Elizabeth Baer; nieces and nephews. Two brothers, Roy and Paul Baer, and a sister, Wilma Aunela, predeceased him.
Born and raised in Clinton, son of Ludwig and Clara (Schneider) Baer, Milton was a lifelong resident of the town’s Germantown neighborhood. He was a graduate of Clinton High School, Class of 1941, and a proud U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving on the LST 557 in the Pacific Theater.
For more than 30 years, Milton worked for the Metropolitan District Commission at the power station for the Wachusett Dam, first as an operator, and finally retiring in 1986 as chief electrical station engineer. He was a licensed electrician and could often be found wiring up a local house, fixing an appliance, or troubleshooting someone’s electrical problems.
He was a life-member of the United Church of Clinton, serving on many of its committees throughout the years. He served on the Clinton Conservation Commission and for many years was a coach for the Clinton Minor League. He was a member of the Masons, the Mass. Chapter of the U.S. LST Association, and the Clinton Turn Verein. The Turner Hall was practically his second home, and throughout his life he could be found there, participating in gymnastic meets, playing basketball or volleyball, serving on committees or simply getting together with “the boys” to play cards. He was an avid hunter and was equally excited by watching a fox or a fisher cat wander by his tree stand, as he was by bringing home that prize deer.
He also loved to spend time fishing in local streams and ponds, but especially on Bare Hill Pond in Harvard, where he spent most of his summers. Throughout his retirement, he enjoyed golfing, playing horseshoes, and watching numerous sports on TV, especially the Red Sox.
Milton’s funeral service was held on Thursday, April 5, at 10 a.m. in the United Church of Clinton, 109 Haskell Ave. Burial followed in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Milton’s family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the VNA Care Network and Hospice Services for their compassion and kindness over the past year and a half. For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the United Church of Clinton, 109 Haskell Ave., Clinton, MA 01510, or to the Turner Hall Gymnastics Program, 60 Branch St., Clinton, MA 01510.
