Baker, Harold L. 1909-2001

BAKER, DAVIS, ESHLEMAN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/13/2007 at 15:32:02

AKRON, Iowa -- Harold "Hal" L. Baker, 91, of Akron died Sunday, Sept. 9, 2001, at a Sioux City hospital.

Services will be 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church in Akron, with the Rev. Maralyn Winch officiating. Inurnment will be at a later date in Riverside Cemetery in Akron. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. today, with family present 7 to 8 p.m., at Schroeder Funeral Home in Akron.

Mr. Baker was born Nov. 2, 1909, in Hawarden, Iowa, the son of Arthur and Lela Bell (Davis) Baker. He graduated from Hawarden High School in 1928, and attended the University of Iowa. He married Igerna Muller in Hawarden in 1932. She preceded him in death. He married Mildred Eshleman on Oct. 18, 1975, in Akron, at Wesley United Methodist Church.

He was a charter member of the Akron Lions Club and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, where he served on the board of trustees. He served on the Commercial Club Board, and on the Akron School Board. He was a member of the Akron Golf Club and was active in the Akron Community Theater.

He managed Newberry stores on the Pacific Coast area, then moved to Akron where he worked at Dirks Hardware Store for seven years, then purchased the Akron Locker Plant. Later he was an IDS salesman for 14 years, after which he became a car salesman in Norfolk, Neb., and from 1975 until his retirement in 1981, at Dirks Motor in Akron.

Survivors include his wife; two sons and their wives, Harold M. and Norman Baker of Angola, Ind., and Robert A. and Lynn Baker of Norfolk; a daughter and her husband, Roberta A. and Randy Wagner of Hoskins, Neb.; two stepsons and their wives, Scott E. and Jane Baker of Silverthorne, Colo., and Jeffrey L. and Mary Baker of Sarasota, Fla.; a stepdaughter and her husband, Pamela and "Doc" Daycleth Walker of Sioux Falls; 11 grandchildren, Julie Hughes, Jay Baker, Jana Grandlienard, Joel Baker, Shelly Doyle, Todd Reeves, Missy Bryde, Jeff Baker, Jordan Baker, Alec Baker and Kyle Baker; 11 great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Clifford; and two sisters, Lorabel Marquardt and Bernice Dirks.

[Part of the Darrell Easton Obituary Collection; source: Sioux City Journal]