Joel Baer

Age 70, passed away at home on Sunday September 6, 2026. He was surrounded by his loving family. He will be greatly missed by family, friends, and neighbors.

Visitation at Noon and service at 1:00 PM Saturday, September 12, 2026 at Hawley Alliance Church 404 Peters Street, Hawley, MN 56549.

Private Family burial to follow.

Joel Baer spent most of his life in Northern Minnesota. He was born on June 16, 1956 in Fordville, ND, to Allan and Edna Baer. He graduated from Lake Park High School, Class of 1974. Joel married JaDee Lotvola on December 28, 1979. Together they raised five children and were married for 47 years. Joel spent his career in agribusiness as a livestock producer specializing in hogs and laying hens. He was preceded in death by his parents Allan and Edna Baer, his siblings, Miriam, James, Myrtle, Naomi, Mark & Luke, and his in-laws Ernest & Jeanne Lotvola.

He is survived by his wife JaDee, his five children: Isaac (Heather Fjeld) of Lake Park, Miriam (Tye Graham) of Zimmerman, Elias (Elizabeth VanNatta) of Monroe, WI, Ezra (Katie Klemetson) of Hawley and Allan (Alysha Warling) of Lake Park, and his eleven beloved grandchildren: Joel, Jude, Mabel, Ruth, Naomi, Rachel, Saul, Peter, Ian, Laura and Samson. His siblings: Ruth, Moses (Connie), Zenas, Amon (Camille), Amos (Christel), Jona (Alicia), Elam (Janice) & Eden (Cecille). Brothers and sisters in law Elroy Lotvolta, Jory (Margaret) Lotvola, Ermina (Jim) Lindsay, Julia Roth, Eyly Kay Lotvola, and multiple nieces and nephews.

Joel approached life with a brilliant creative mind, a legendary work ethic, and a sense of humor that could find a silver lining in absolutely any situation. He was a servant at heart, working tirelessly on mission trips and living with an open-door philosophy who welcomed everyone into his home and life. If you walked through his door, you were family—and you were probably about to be subjected to one of his stories or interrogations over a cup of coffee.

Joel loved the quiet simplicity of his cabin, out past the manicured forest. He used that time to reflect on life and hand-carve wooden toys and trinkets for the grandkids. He lived in perfect harmony with the world around him, meaning those "unsightly" piles of wood were actually masterfully designed luxury refuges for the local wildlife. His grandest masterpiece, however, was transforming 17 acres into a native Blue Stem Prairie Sanctuary. He cut perfect trails through the grass so everyone could fully enjoy the birds, the butterflies, and—whether they wanted to or not—the cockaburrs that lovingly hitched a ride home on your socks.

His absolute greatest joy was being a grandfather. Piling his 11 grandchildren into the buggy for rides out in the Sanctuary—his true "God's Country"—was where Joel was happiest. His warmth, positivity, and beautiful spirit will be deeply missed, but his trails are always waiting to be enjoyed.

We love you Joel, Papa, & Grandpa