Sterling I Baier, 91, formerly of Avoca, Neb., died Monday, March 31, 2008, at Good Samaritan Home in Beatrice. Sterling was born near Avoca on Aug. 6, 1916, to William Oswald Baier and Jessie Ella Jones.
He helped work the family farm during the depression, and graduated from Avoca High School in 1934. He briefly attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, but left to attend the Omaha Welding School, studying electric welding and oxyacetylene welding. He continued his education by correspondence and enjoyed 55 years as a skilled welder, traveling around the United States and beyond. During his career, he worked on pipelines, tow boats, impeller blades and on the building of the Kingsley Dam. He joined a pipeline crew on an oil boom in Colorado, stayed there for three years with his own shop until the oil gave out. During World War II, he worked in a Civil Service job in California, training women to be welders in the defense industry. He also operated his own welding shop for a time in Carrolton, Mo. Canada called for Sterling?s welding skills and he built a shop at Fort St. John in British Columbia during the petroleum drilling activity. He remained there for over 20 years, working several years as a job boss on the Alaska pipeline in the 50's. Sterling returned to Avoca in 1986 with his wife, Dorotha (Sudduth, Downs). He owned and operated a welding repair and fabrication shop on Main Street for many years. Sterling's interest were many and he read every book and newspaper available until his eyesight failed him. He felt strongly about preserving the earth and even though he and Dorotha thought they would never live to see the fruit, they planted an orchard and several other species of trees on their Avoca acreage. Their gardens were extensive as they shared their harvest with family and community.
Sterling is survived by his brother, Dwight (Bernice) Baier of Woodland, CA; sons, Bruce Baier of Illinois, Sheldon Baier of British Columbia, Canada; daughter, Leisa Baier of British Columbia, Canada; stepson, Robert (Shirlee) Downs of Aurora, CO; stepdaughters, Helen Downs (Roger) Huls of Beatrice, Ellen Downs (Paul) Singleton of Seward and Jeneane Schultz of Hood River, OR; grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Hazel McCord; brother-in-law, Jerry McCord; stepson-in-law, the Rev. Jesse Stein, and beloved wife Dorotha of 27 years.
Memorial service: 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th Street, Lincoln. Pastor Michael Stein will officiate. Cremation; no visitation. Inurnment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park. Memorials to the Avoca Town Hall Renovation.
Nebraska City News-Press (NE)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
He helped work the family farm during the depression, and graduated from Avoca High School in 1934. He briefly attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, but left to attend the Omaha Welding School, studying electric welding and oxyacetylene welding. He continued his education by correspondence and enjoyed 55 years as a skilled welder, traveling around the United States and beyond. During his career, he worked on pipelines, tow boats, impeller blades and on the building of the Kingsley Dam. He joined a pipeline crew on an oil boom in Colorado, stayed there for three years with his own shop until the oil gave out. During World War II, he worked in a Civil Service job in California, training women to be welders in the defense industry. He also operated his own welding shop for a time in Carrolton, Mo. Canada called for Sterling?s welding skills and he built a shop at Fort St. John in British Columbia during the petroleum drilling activity. He remained there for over 20 years, working several years as a job boss on the Alaska pipeline in the 50's. Sterling returned to Avoca in 1986 with his wife, Dorotha (Sudduth, Downs). He owned and operated a welding repair and fabrication shop on Main Street for many years. Sterling's interest were many and he read every book and newspaper available until his eyesight failed him. He felt strongly about preserving the earth and even though he and Dorotha thought they would never live to see the fruit, they planted an orchard and several other species of trees on their Avoca acreage. Their gardens were extensive as they shared their harvest with family and community.
Sterling is survived by his brother, Dwight (Bernice) Baier of Woodland, CA; sons, Bruce Baier of Illinois, Sheldon Baier of British Columbia, Canada; daughter, Leisa Baier of British Columbia, Canada; stepson, Robert (Shirlee) Downs of Aurora, CO; stepdaughters, Helen Downs (Roger) Huls of Beatrice, Ellen Downs (Paul) Singleton of Seward and Jeneane Schultz of Hood River, OR; grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Hazel McCord; brother-in-law, Jerry McCord; stepson-in-law, the Rev. Jesse Stein, and beloved wife Dorotha of 27 years.
Memorial service: 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th Street, Lincoln. Pastor Michael Stein will officiate. Cremation; no visitation. Inurnment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park. Memorials to the Avoca Town Hall Renovation.
Nebraska City News-Press (NE)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Sterling I Baier, 91, formerly of Avoca, Neb., died Monday, March 31, 2008, at Good Samaritan Home in Beatrice. Sterling was born near Avoca on Aug. 6, 1916, to William Oswald Baier and Jessie Ella Jones.
He helped work the family farm during the depression, and graduated from Avoca High School in 1934. He briefly attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, but left to attend the Omaha Welding School, studying electric welding and oxyacetylene welding. He continued his education by correspondence and enjoyed 55 years as a skilled welder, traveling around the United States and beyond. During his career, he worked on pipelines, tow boats, impeller blades and on the building of the Kingsley Dam. He joined a pipeline crew on an oil boom in Colorado, stayed there for three years with his own shop until the oil gave out. During World War II, he worked in a Civil Service job in California, training women to be welders in the defense industry. He also operated his own welding shop for a time in Carrolton, Mo. Canada called for Sterling?s welding skills and he built a shop at Fort St. John in British Columbia during the petroleum drilling activity. He remained there for over 20 years, working several years as a job boss on the Alaska pipeline in the 50's. Sterling returned to Avoca in 1986 with his wife, Dorotha (Sudduth, Downs). He owned and operated a welding repair and fabrication shop on Main Street for many years. Sterling's interest were many and he read every book and newspaper available until his eyesight failed him. He felt strongly about preserving the earth and even though he and Dorotha thought they would never live to see the fruit, they planted an orchard and several other species of trees on their Avoca acreage. Their gardens were extensive as they shared their harvest with family and community.
Sterling is survived by his brother, Dwight (Bernice) Baier of Woodland, CA; sons, Bruce Baier of Illinois, Sheldon Baier of British Columbia, Canada; daughter, Leisa Baier of British Columbia, Canada; stepson, Robert (Shirlee) Downs of Aurora, CO; stepdaughters, Helen Downs (Roger) Huls of Beatrice, Ellen Downs (Paul) Singleton of Seward and Jeneane Schultz of Hood River, OR; grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Hazel McCord; brother-in-law, Jerry McCord; stepson-in-law, the Rev. Jesse Stein, and beloved wife Dorotha of 27 years.
Memorial service: 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th Street, Lincoln. Pastor Michael Stein will officiate. Cremation; no visitation. Inurnment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park. Memorials to the Avoca Town Hall Renovation.
Nebraska City News-Press (NE)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
He helped work the family farm during the depression, and graduated from Avoca High School in 1934. He briefly attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, but left to attend the Omaha Welding School, studying electric welding and oxyacetylene welding. He continued his education by correspondence and enjoyed 55 years as a skilled welder, traveling around the United States and beyond. During his career, he worked on pipelines, tow boats, impeller blades and on the building of the Kingsley Dam. He joined a pipeline crew on an oil boom in Colorado, stayed there for three years with his own shop until the oil gave out. During World War II, he worked in a Civil Service job in California, training women to be welders in the defense industry. He also operated his own welding shop for a time in Carrolton, Mo. Canada called for Sterling?s welding skills and he built a shop at Fort St. John in British Columbia during the petroleum drilling activity. He remained there for over 20 years, working several years as a job boss on the Alaska pipeline in the 50's. Sterling returned to Avoca in 1986 with his wife, Dorotha (Sudduth, Downs). He owned and operated a welding repair and fabrication shop on Main Street for many years. Sterling's interest were many and he read every book and newspaper available until his eyesight failed him. He felt strongly about preserving the earth and even though he and Dorotha thought they would never live to see the fruit, they planted an orchard and several other species of trees on their Avoca acreage. Their gardens were extensive as they shared their harvest with family and community.
Sterling is survived by his brother, Dwight (Bernice) Baier of Woodland, CA; sons, Bruce Baier of Illinois, Sheldon Baier of British Columbia, Canada; daughter, Leisa Baier of British Columbia, Canada; stepson, Robert (Shirlee) Downs of Aurora, CO; stepdaughters, Helen Downs (Roger) Huls of Beatrice, Ellen Downs (Paul) Singleton of Seward and Jeneane Schultz of Hood River, OR; grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Hazel McCord; brother-in-law, Jerry McCord; stepson-in-law, the Rev. Jesse Stein, and beloved wife Dorotha of 27 years.
Memorial service: 10 a.m. Thursday, April 24, 2008, at Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, 6800 S. 14th Street, Lincoln. Pastor Michael Stein will officiate. Cremation; no visitation. Inurnment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park. Memorials to the Avoca Town Hall Renovation.
Nebraska City News-Press (NE)
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
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