Gene B Baer

Gene Bertram Baer, a beloved husband, father, grandfather passed away on Saturday, March 30^th, 2024. He was 77 years old.

 Gene was born on Feb 11, 1947, in Burbank, CA to Fred and Sally Baer. *Please note that two years later, on the exact same day, his future wife was born, but that’s for another obituary yet to be written. Gene grew up and attended school in Southern California. He bravely served his country as a member of the Navy as a Seabee, serving two terms in the Vietnam War, demonstrating courage and dedication to his fellow soldiers. After returning home, he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he met said future wife, Debbie Hastings, while attending Bellevue college. He was married to Debbie, for 53 years, a union built on love, trust, and unwavering support. They had three daughters, raising them all in North Texas, where Gene built his own construction company from the ground up. In addition to his immediate family, Gene was the humorous patriarch to an ever-growing extended family that stretched far beyond his Coho and Texas community, leaving his mark through his hard work, dedication, and integrity. 

 After retiring, he and Debbie moved to South Carolina to be closer to family. In 2014, he was baptized into the Seventh Day Adventist Church, where he attended with his wife. He lived the remainder of his days in a home they built together on a lake where he fished regularly, boated with his grandkids, and swam underwater while holding his breath for a concerning amount of time.  

 Gene Baer never met a stranger, making friends wherever he went. His kindness and generosity preceded him, and he continues to act as a beacon for those who knew him. He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and compassion. Though he may no longer be with us in body, his spirit will live on in the hearts of all who loved him.

 Gene is survived by his beautiful and much younger wife, Debbie, his children, Heidi Baer Karant (John), Sarah Lynn Baer, Jessica Summer Harder (Ryan), Grandchildren; Emma, Ava, Adelynn and Oliver, older brother, John Baer, and younger sister, Joan Carrie Parisean. 

 A celebration of Gene’s life will be held on Saturday April 6, 2024, at 3:00 pm at  Spartanburg Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1217 John B. White Sr. Blvd., Spartanburg, SC 29306.  

  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Gene’s memory to Upstate Community Hospice OR plant something in your garden with roots.

 Rest in peace, dear Gene. Your laughter echoes in our hearts forevermore.