Duane Richard Baer, 88, of Linton, ND, died during the morning of January 1, 2024, when our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ seen that Duane was tired and called him home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am, Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Peace Lutheran Church, Linton with Pastor Sean Barnhart officiating.  Burial will be held at 1:00pm on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at The North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, ND with military rites provided by, Mandan VFW and The Linton American Legion.  Visitation will be held from 5pm to 7pm on Friday, January 5, 2024 at Sannes Feist Family Funeral Home, Linton.  There will be a prayer service at 7pm.

Duane was born to Reinhart and Lydia (Blumhardt) Baer January 17, 1935, at Hoven SD. He attended school at Mobridge SD, graduating from high school in May of 1953.  In school is where Duane found his love for sports and his most favorite, baseball, that he started playing at the age of 7. After graduating from high school, he worked in a survey crew. In November 1954, Duane and his close friend John Swanhorst joined the Army. Luck would have it that the good friends spent their two years serving the Army together in Europe. During his service, Duane's rank was PFC and received medals for Good Conduct and Marksmanship and was honorably discharged in October 1956. After being discharged, Duane decided to continue his education. He attended college under the GI bill at the Black Hills Teachers College in Spearfish SD, graduating in the fall of 1960. During his time at college, along with his studies, he played baseball and found the love of his life, Janice Joy. Duane met Janice at the college library and later proposed to her at the Mobridge drive-in and were married in Murdo SD, August 24, 1958. After graduation the happy couple moved to Buffalo Gap and Faulkton, teaching and raising a family. During that time, they had a son, Tod and a daughter, Tammi. In 1963 Duane accepted a teaching and coaching contract in Linton. Duane served in several capacities at the school for 19 years and had a very successful coaching career. In 1982 Duane began teaching along with other roles at Streeter High School. He took on the role as basketball coach in 1985 and was awarded the Robert E. Bullis Coaches Award and the District 38 Coach of the Year in 1985-1986 season. When the school closed in 1991, he continued as a counselor for a consortium of five schools in the Gackle/Streeter area until his retirement in 1998.

Duane also liked to dabble in his own businesses. He sold insurance for a number of years for Lutheran Brotherhood. Duane and Janice also owned a photo developing lab and the Linton Indoor and Outdoor Theater.

Duane is a past member of the North Dakota High School Coaches Association and he was a life member of the Jaycees. He was a devoted member of the Peace Lutheran Church where he served on many boards and church council positions since 1963. He was a member of the Lions Club since 1978, serving as president and board member several times along with working on many Lion Club projects. Duane was a member of the Linton American Legion Post 54 since 1979 and was recognized as a Legionnaire of the Year in 2008 and was inducted into the N.D. American Legion Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018. In the fall of 2018, he was also inducted into the Black Hills State University Yellow Jacket Hall of Fame recognizing the 1960 baseball team.

During his years of retirement, he enjoyed spending time with family, managing Linton's Youth Baseball Program, Senior Citizens, Lions Club, and the American Legion. Most summer days he could be found at the baseball diamond, mowing grass, taking care of the infield, doing maintenance work, or just daydreaming about past games he played and the future of the youth program. He also enjoyed collecting coins, wood working, watching sports, and fishing.

Duane was grateful to have shared his life with his loving wife and life partner of 65 years, Janice, Linton ND; a daughter, Tammi Schuetz, Mandan ND; a son Tod (Patty) Baer, Mandan ND; Three grandchildren: Nick (Courtney) Schuetz, Jamestown ND; Stephen (Stephanie) Schuetz, Bismarck, ND; and David Schuetz, Mandan ND; Sister and brother: Estella Carlson, Davenport IA; and Quentin Baer, Hazen ND; and three great grandchildren: Asher, Lincoln, and Niko, Jamestown ND.

Preceded in death are Duane's parents, Reinhart and Lydia (Blumhardt) Baer; brother, Mahlon Baer; sister, Ikey Buckenberger and three great grandchildren: Cariss Grace Schuetz, Baby C Schuetz, and Cooper Duane Schuetz.

Duane was a man of great integrity, he had a kind heart and full of love for his faith, family, friends, students, and athletes.

Duane had requested that any donations be given in his name to the Linton Youth Baseball Program, the Linton Senior Center or the Alzheimer's Foundation.