Baker, Michael F. -- 1912 - 1999

SMITH, BAKER, ROSENBAUM, WALKER, COWAN, WALKER

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/5/2010 at 16:51:27

Decorah Public Opinion, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999.

Michael "Mike" F. Baker, 87, of Fort Atkinson, died Friday, Oct. 29, 1999, at Aase Haugen Nursing Home in Decorah, following a lengthy illness.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m., at St. John's Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson, with the Rev. Allen Schmitt officiating.

Alan Sensor will be the organist. The St. John's Church Choir will sing. Music will include "Amazing Grace", "On Eagle's Wings" and "How Great Thou Art".

Casket bearers will be his seven grandchildren, William, David and Jewel Ann Baker; Dennis and Julia Bakula; Rebecca Walker; and Mary Kay Baker.

Burial will be at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Fort Atkinson. The Chekal Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Michael was born Oct. 7, 1912, in La Belle, Mo., the son of Frank and Julia (Smith) Baker. He attended school in Missouri and moved to Iowa in 1931 as a farmhand.

Mike married Mary Rosenbaum Nov. 22, 1975, at St. John's Catholic Church in Fort Atkinson.

Mike farmed near Calmar and Fort Atkinson all his farming years. He enjoyed milking cows and milked for over 61 years, retiring when he was 83.

He was a member of St. John's Catholic Church, Fort Atkinson.

Survivors include his wife, Mary of Fort Atkinson; one daughter, Betty Lou Walker-Cowan and husband Patrick of Ottumwa; three sons, Dennis and Diane Baker of Calmar, Don Baker of Festina and Michael Baker, Jr. of Decorah; seven grandchildren, William Baker and his wife Janice, David and Jewell Ann Baker, Dennis and Julia Bakula, Rebecca Walker and Mary Kay Baker; and two great grandchildren, Sarah and Joseph Baker.

Michael F. Baker was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, Jesse, John, Albert, Dick, David and Elmer; and five sisters; Dorothy, Lillian, Josephine, Jewell and Lula.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.