BAKER, John Charles 1941-2017

BAKER, CONLEY, TURNER

Posted By: K. L. Kittleson
Date: 3/12/2018 at 12:36:22

February 7, 1941 - October 6, 2017

Obituary for John C. Baker

John Charles Baker, the son of Herb and Marian (Conley) Baker, was born on February 17, 1941, in Watertown, South Dakota, and was baptized at Immaculate Conception Church on March 9, 1941. He attended Watertown High School and graduated in 1959. He continued his education at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1964.

John met his sweetheart, Nancy "Tish" Turner when they were sophomores in high school. They began dating and then the happy couple married on June 24, 1961 in Watertown. John worked as an Industrial Engineer for John Deere for 35 years and worked in the cities of Moline, Illinois; Dubuque, Iowa and lastly Waterloo, Iowa where he began his retirement.

In 1994 John was ordained as a deacon and fulfilled his spiritual work at St. Edwards Catholic Church in Waterloo. In 2012 he retired his position in that church and returned to his hometown of Watertown, South Dakota. There, he served briefly as a deacon at Immaculate Conception Church.

John was very involved in his children and grandchildren's lives and they all affectionately called him Gully, a nickname given to him by his grandson, Austin Rentz when Austin was a toddler. John embraced his Catholic faith and lived and breathed the way of the Lord in everything that he did in life.

John will be greatly missed by his wife, Tish; his three sons: Jack Baker of Waterloo, IA, Pat Baker of Eldridge, IA and Brian (Mel) Miller of Washburn, IA; his two daughters, Colleen (Mike) Hallemann of St. Louis, MO and Kiernan (Troy) Nicol of Cedar Falls, IA; his 12 grandchildren: Matthew Baker, Logan Miller, Colton Miller, Christian La Jeuness, Austin Rentz, Caiden Rentz, Jordan Nicol, Morgan Miller, Jordan Rentz, Madison Rentz, Megann Rentz, Lucie La Jeuness; his four great-grandchildren: Harlen Miller, Christopher Nicol, Vada Rentz and Dephine Rentz; his brother, Jim (Cele)Baker of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; his sister, Connie( Craig) Swarthout of Watertown, South Dakota; and a host of other relatives.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Herb and Marian Baker; and his granddaughter, Kaitlyn Rentz.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 13, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Watertown.

A Scripture service will be 6:30 p.m. Monday, October 16, at St. Edward's Catholic Church, Waterloo.

Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 17, at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waterloo, Iowa.

SOURCE: Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup funeral home