Baker, Douglas John (1945 - 2023)

BAKER, ABBOTT, FILLMORE, WHITFORD, ARNOLD, BLUM, FAIRCHILD, REINIG

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 10/8/2023 at 15:48:04

Name of deceased: Douglas John Baker

Aged: 78 yrs, 7 mo, 15 days

Residence: Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Born: Feb. 14, 1945; Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Died: Oct. 1, 2023; Myrtue Medical Center, Harlan, Shelby County, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, Oct. 5, 2023; St. Michael's Catholic Church, Harlan, IA; burial was in the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: Wife of 54 years, Mary; son, Max Baker (spouse, Sarah) of Grinnell, IA; daughter, Sarah Baker of Omaha, NE: grandchildren, Mikaela (spouse, Zach) Abbott of Oskaloosa, IA, Zachary Fillmore of Grinnell, IA, Jacob Baker of Oskaloosa, IA, Connor Whitford of Omaha, NE, and Benjamin Whitford of Omaha, NE; great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Messer; sisters, Susan (spouse, Raymond) Arnold of Minden, IA and Michelle (spouse, Gary) Blum of Harlan, IA; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Parents, Harold "Jake" and Leola "Lee" (nee Fairchild) Baker; brother, Larry Baker; sister, Cynthia Baker; granddaughter, Abigail Whitford

Education: Doug attended Harlan (IA) High School and played football and wrestled before graduating in 1964; he then attended Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, MO. While there, he was on the wrestling team which was later inducted into the Northwest Missouri State Hall of Fame. Doug later went on to obtain his master's degree in administration.

Religious affiliation: Catholic

Military service: U. S. Army, 1968 to 1970; was deployed to Vietnam in 1969 and was awarded the purple heart.

Marriage: Mary Reinig; April 26, 1969; St Mary's Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Portsmouth, IA

Employment: Doug spent his career in education in the Clinton and Oskaloosa school districts. After he retired from education, he worked for Pauley Jones Funeral Home for 9 years.

Hobbies/Interests: Loved the outdoors and fishing. After retiring, he owned multiple Harley Davidson's. Mostly, he loved time spent with family.

Sources: kjan.com; pauleyjones.com