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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former Owner of Soller-Baker Funeral Home Renews License for 62^nd Year

Lafayette, IN, 1/06/09 – In 1946, the very first meeting of the United Nations was held in London, and Tom Baer received his Funeral Director’s license.  In 2008, he renewed his license for the 62^nd year.  Tom has been affiliated with Soller Baker Funeral Homes since 1952.  

Baer, born in 1920, has Indiana roots that run deep.  Growing up in New Carlisle, he remembers, “When I was a kid, I worked for 50 cents a week, and I would pile it up for several weeks so I could go to South Bend to see a movie.”  He also enjoyed trips that his family would take to Benton Harbor, Michigan, “I always loved going to the House of David and riding the trains.” 

After serving in the medical corps in the army, he thought he might like to work in the medical field.  During high school, he had worked with a mortician in their small town, and, he said, “One thing led to another, and I wound up in mortuary school in Indianapolis.”  After graduating in 1946, he spent some time in Monticello before coming to Lafayette and Soller Baker.

He speaks fondly of his time here, “I became employed by Soller Baker in 1952, and I’ve been there ever since.  In 1962, when Elmer J. Soller passed away, I became a fourth owner with Edwin Soller, Otto Baker, and William Willhoit.”  Baer and Willhoit became the sole owners in 1967, and they operated the business together until 1985, when they sold it to the current owner, Ron Diem.  “From then on,” says Baer, “I’ve just been a back seat associate at Soller Baker up until the present time.  That gives me a record of being there for a little over 50 years.”

Soller Baker Owner Ron Diem said, “He still comes in just about every morning to have coffee and keep up on current events.  Tom is just a great guy.”

Baer says, “I like to stay informed and in touch with the business, and I can still pinch hit when needed!”

He agrees that the funeral industry is much different in 2008 than it was in 1946.  “We took care of the needs of a lot of local people over the years.  62 years ago, all of our record-keeping was done by hand in big ledgers, and on old-fashioned typewriters.  Now, everything is done on computers.”  Baer also remembers when memorial cards were sent out to be printed by a printing company.  Today they are designed and printed by computer right in the office. 

“Everything is entirely different, now,” he continues.  “Even the schooling is different.  When I went (to mortuary school), it was a one-year course.  Then, you had to do an apprenticeship before you got your funeral director’s license.  Now most students earn at least an associate’s degree, then do the apprenticeship.” 

Baer’s is a familiar face to many who have come to Soller-Baker over the years.  “That’s a good thing,” said Diem.  “When you come to the funeral home, it’s nice to see someone you recognize, and know that they and the rest of the staff will take good care of your family.  Tom has a long-standing reputation for taking good care of folks.”

Baer has three children who graduated from West Lafayette High School, two of them went on to graduate from Purdue University, and the other from Franklin College.

 

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Photo attached: Tom Baer

 

For more information, contact John Benefiel at 765-474-1111 or john@soller-baker.com

 

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