Donald Parker BAEDKE

DERSCHEID, BAEDKE, PARKER, COLLMANN, VER STEEG, OBRION, MEYER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/4/2014 at 19:19:33

August 14, 1924 ---- February 26, 2012

Donald Parker Baedke, 87, of Fort Dodge passed away on Sunday February 26, 2012 at Tompkins Memorial Health Center. The funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday March 1, 2012 at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Pastor Allen Henderson officiating. Burial will follow at North Lawn Cemetery. The visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at Gunderson Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Donald was born in Pomeroy, IA on August 14, 1924 to Otto and Nellie (Parker) Baedke. He graduated from Pomeroy High School in 1942. He then served in the U.S. Army for 2 ½ years during World War II. He attended the Honor Flight to Washington D.C. in May of 2011. On November 5, 1948 he married Darlene Derscheid at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. When he was discharged from the Service he farmed for many years. In 1960 he began working for the Community Orchard where he became the owner operator until he retired in 1990. He was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church for over 50 years and served on various Church Committees. He was a long time member and served on the Board of Directors of the Iowa Fruit & Vegetable Growers for many years and received the Merit Award for outstanding service to the horticulture industry. One of his greatest joys was participating as a judge at the Iowa State Fair for the Apple Dessert division.

Don is survived by his wife Darlene; sons Steven (Sue) Baedke, James (Lynda) Baedke, Greg (Bev) Baedke, Roger (Tenna) Baedke; daughters Mary (Bruce) Collmann, Phyllis (Kyle) Ver Steeg and Barb (Joe) O'Brion; 19 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren and one brother Charles (Marilyn) Baedke. He was preceded in death by his parents Otto and Nellie Baedke; his sister Pauline Meyer; his brother Robert Baedke and infant daughter Julie.

Gunderson Funeral Home
http://www.gundersonfuneralhome.com/obituary/94155/Donald-Baedke/