Funeral services for Milon Baer will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Mansfield Lutheran Church. The Rev. Don Rose will officiate. Military honors will be accorded by local servicemen’s organizations; VFW and American Legion. Interment will be at Mansfield Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. today at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Milon died Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2013, at his home.

Milon Martin Baer was born Sept. 27, 1923, on the family farm in Faribault County. He was the third child of six to Erick and Agnes (Lindeman) Baer.

He attended the Hintz country school near their farm and later graduated from Kiester High School in the class of 1941. Milon worked with his dad on the farm until he was drafted in 1944 into the Maritime Service, Merchant Marines to support the war efforts. After basic training in New York, he worked in the engine room on five ships that sailed to destinations in Europe, Africa, Central and South America. During the last voyage his father passed away, which made it necessary for him to return to help his brothers operate the farm.

Shortly after, Milon met Jacquelyn Cameron in Albert Lea. They dated, fell in love and were married June 6, 1948. Milon and Jackie eventually took over the family farm and lived, worked and raised a family there for 35 years. They had one daughter and two sons: Janan, Roger and a baby boy that died days after his birth.

Milon and Jackie were life-long members of Mansfield Lutheran Church, which they attended as a family and where they served in many supportive roles.

In his farming profession, he raised dairy and beef cattle, hogs and crops of corn, soybeans, oats and alfalfa. He took a deep interest in soil and water conservation and became an early adopter of organic farming, minimum tillage and crop rotation practices. He served for 22 years on the Faribault County Soil and Water Conservation Board and received the 1986 Farmer of the Year award for his conservation practices.

After retiring from farming, he and Jackie moved to Albert Lea where they worked a few more years and served in the community. Milon served on the St. John’s Lutheran Home board of directors for several terms in the late 1990s.

Milon enjoyed visiting with friends, bowling, playing golf, woodworking, dancing and playing cards.

Survivors include daughter, Janan (Dan) Massey of Solvang, Calif.; son Roger (Laurie) Baer of Colorado Springs, Colo.; friend Gail Thurnau, grandchildren Danette (Ryan) Schellhous, Diana (Marc) Phillips, Eric Massey, Allison (Dan) Engel, Alissa Massey, Cameron (Lauren) Baer and; great-grandchildren Evan, Colin, Aaron and Quentin Schellhous, Carter, Anderson, Christian and Ella Phillips, Connor and Mason Engel and Jonah and Brynn Baer.

Milon was preceded in death by wife Jacquelyn (Cameron) Baer, infant son, parents, Erick and Agnes Baer, sister Adelaine Sime, brother Alvin Baer, and grand-daughter RaeAnn Baer.