Baack, Alta Mae 1935-2016

BAACK, SIDERS, BLACK

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/25/2017 at 19:31:00

Le Mars, Iowa – (Siders) Baack, 80, of Wellesley, Massachusetts, formerly of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at her home following a lengthy illness. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 6, 2016 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Le Mars. Rev. Chris Meier will officiate. Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday at the church.

Alta Mae Siders was born September 9, 1935, near Avalon, Missouri, the daughter of Raymond Jerome and Lulu Mae (Black) Siders. Her family soon moved to northwest Iowa where she attended Ireton and rural elementary schools. As a young girl she rode horses either saddled or bareback.

She graduated from Le Mars High School, class of 1953, a class renowned for high academic achievements. She was class secretary.

At the age of 17 she left the farm and worked several years for local utilities in customer service and payroll. She then enrolled in Westmar College and graduated having done magna-cum-laude level work in 1963.

She taught elementary grades in Orange City and Iowa Falls, Iowa; Lansing, Michigan; and Dedham, Massachusetts, gaining distinction as a skilled elementary reading teacher.

Her hobbies were golf and bridge, playing at Brae Burn Country Club, Massachusetts where she was a member for 35 years. As captain of the ladies' interclub bridge team, she led the team on an unmatched multiple-year winning streak. Included in her bridge activities was participation in district, regional and national bridge tournaments, partnering with her husband.

Joining her husband on business and leisure trips, she enjoyed multiple trips to Europe, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Hawaii, and Australia.

A member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Needham, Massachusetts for 47 years, she served on the council and various committees.

Survivors include her husband of 58 years, John E. Baack, a son, J. Paul Baack (Roseanna) of Newton, MA, and a granddaughter, Angela Mae Baack, a freshman at Newton North High School. She leaves three brothers, Fran, of Mesquite, TX; Dean (Kathy) Siders of Orange City, IA; and Norm (Carol) Siders of Albuquerque, NM. Additional survivors include many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents and oldest brother, Lloyd, of Council Bluffs, IA.

Always a practical woman, Alta wanted this obituary to include an "in lieu of flowers" statement suggesting that contributions be made to Grace Lutheran Church at the address above, where the Baack family expects to establish an Alta Baack endowment to support Christian education.

Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa