William "Bill" J. Baer, Jr.

BAER, William J., Jr. "Bill", age 61, took his life on Monday, August 12, 2024 at his home in Lebanon, Ohio.

Bill grew up in Greenhills, Ohio. He was a volunteer for 20 years with Greenhills Fire Dept. where he finished as Captain. He also worked with Colerain Fire Dept. for 6 years, and Lieutenant with Fairfield Fire Dept. for 8 years. Bill worked for Lowes for 23 years and most recently worked at Glenrock Company. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, William Sr., and Fleda M. Baer; and brothers, Donald Fricke and Robert Fricke. Survived by children, Daniel M. Baer of Los Angeles, CA and Dyanna M. Baer of Salt Lake City, Utah; and former wives, Penny (Albers) Kinney and Susan (Silber) Baer. Also survived by close friends and co-workers.

Guests are invited to greet the family for a Celebration of Bill’s Life that will be held at Vorhis & Ryan Funeral Home, 11365 Springfield Pk., Springdale, OH 45246 on Friday, August 23, 2024 from 1-3PM. 

Memorial contributions, in Bill's memory, may be made to Greenhills Fire Department, 11000 Winton Rd., Greenhills, OH 45218.

A message from the family: 

"We hope the transparency on the circumstances of Bill’s death will be conducive to having more open, honest conversations around guns and mental health. Currently twenty-one states provide Extreme Risk Protection Orders that would have lawfully protected Bill from using a firearm on himself; Ohio is not among these 21 states."