Baldwin, Roger A. 1924-2004

BALDWIN, COOK, AEGERTER, RATCLIFF, WHEELER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/18/2005 at 10:35:44

ROCK RAPIDS -- Roger Adelphi Baldwin, 79, of Rock Rapids, and former Lyon County Extension Education Director, died Sunday, April 18, at the Lyon Manor Nursing & Rehab Center in Rock Rapids.

Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday at the United Methodist Church in Rock Rapids with the Rev. Deborah Stowers officiating. Visitation will be held today from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids.

Also, a memorial service and burial of the cremains will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Center Friends Church, 3174 E. 60th St. N. in rural Newton. Memorials may be directed to the Rock Rapids United Methodist Church, Lyon County 4-H Program or the Alzheimer's Association.

The son of Clarence and Rufinia (Cook) Baldwin, he was born June 27, 1924, in Newton. He was raised on a farm east of Newton and attended rural Newton schools. He graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1942. He farmed with his father for 15 years and attended the early farm operations classes at Iowa State University. He went on to graduate from Iowa State University in 1961 with a degree in agricultural education. Following graduation, he worked as County Extension Education Director in Buena Vista and Ida counties before going to Lyon County in 1962. He was the Lyon County Extension Education Director for 30 years and retired in 1992.

On June 24, 1962, he married Evelyn J. Aegerter in Ames. The couple made their home in Rock Rapids for 10 years and then on an acreage south of town.

Roger was very involved with the Lyon County Fair, as well as the Iowa State Fair. He served on the State Fair 4-H Exhibits staff after World War II, continuing for more than 15 years. In 2002, he was inducted into the inaugural Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame.

Mr. Baldwin was a 4-H and FFA Alum from Jasper County and served as state president of the Rural Youth Organization sponsored by Farm Bureau. He was a National 4-H Congress delegate and was the first IFYE from the United States to go to Costa Rica. He served on the Lyon County Planning Board for the development of Lake Pajoha, was a participant in the development of the Lyon-Sioux Rural Water system, was named Kiwanis Lt. Governor and served on various church boards and committees.

He is survived by his wife; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Donald A. and Gabriela Baldwin of Newtown Square, Pa., Gregory C. and Laura Baldwin of Plano, Texas, and Brian R. of Richardson, Texas; two sisters and a brother-in-law, Betty Ratcliff of Grinnell and Marian and Ron Wheeler of Marion; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Lois McConeghey. ~ Newton Daily News, Newton, IA, Tuesday, April 20, 2004