Donald R. “Don“ Baer, 80, of North Whitehall Township, died peacefully Oct. 30, 2020, in Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg campus, Bethlehem.

He and his wife, Elaine J. (Moser) Baer, were married 59 years.

Born in Schnecksville, he was the son of the late William and Elda (Rauch) Baer.

In the banking industry all his life from an early age, he started at Egypt National Bank and retired as a vice president for Merchants National Bank, Allentown, where he was the longtime manager of the Coplay branch.

Very active in the community, he was past treasurer of the Coplay Rotary Club, member of the Hershey AACA and past president of the Ontelaunee Region for AACA.

He loved restoring and working on his classic cars, and was dedicated to organizing Das Awkscht Fescht each year in Macungie.

He was a member of The Gift of Life, receiving a heart transplant in 2000.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter Kay Fronheiser and husband, Chris, of New Tripoli, with daughters Kelly Jenkins and husband, Ryan, along with their children Hunter and Caleb, all of Colorado Springs; Ashley Reichard and husband, Jarret, of Mertztown; son Randall Baer and his wife, Rosalind (Kelleher) of North Whitehall Township, along with their children Brianna and Andrew; and sister Eleanor Kleckner and husband, Ronald, of Schnecksville.

Services, officiated by the Rev. James W. Schlegel, will be 11 a.m. Nov. 5 in Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, 4331 Main St., Whitehall, where the viewing will begin 9:30 a.m.

Interment will follow on his family plot in Union Cemetery, Neffs.

Members of AACA are asked to bring their vehicles and escort him to his final resting place.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Gift of Life Donor Program, 401 N. 3rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19123 or at donors1.org; Northern Valley EMS, (NOVA), 2375 Levans Road, Coplay, PA 18037, or AACA c/o Lester R. Manwiller, 20 Timothy Drive, Fleetwood, PA 19522-8674.

Arrangements were made by Gilbert Funeral Home, Whitehall.