Douglas J. Baker
February 14, 1945 — October 1, 2023
Douglas John Baker was born February 14th, 1945, to Harold "Jake" and Leola "Lee" (Fairchild) Baker in Harlan, IA. He was one of five children.
Doug played football and wrestled during high school. He graduated from Harlan High School in 1964 and attended Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, MO. While attending, he was a student athlete on the wrestling team. The team was later inducted into the Northwest Missouri State Hall of Fame. He later went on to obtain his master's degree in administration.
Doug was a proud veteran and served his country from 1968 to 1970 in the US Army. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1969. He was awarded the purple heart.
Doug married Mary Reinig at St Mary's Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth, IA on April 26, 1969. They were blessed with two children. Maxwell Douglas John was born June of 1974, and Sarah Mildred Mary was born January of 1978.
Doug's life was structured around discipline, and he built his career in education in the Clinton and Oskaloosa school districts. After retirement from education, he worked for Pauley Jones Funeral Home for nine years.
Doug enjoyed many things throughout his life, but family always came first. He loved the outdoors and fishing. He caught the motorcycle bug after retiring and owned multiple Harley Davidson's. He enjoyed having coffee and solving the world problems with his good friends several times a week.
Doug is survived by his loving wife, Mary of 54 years; his son Max Baker (Sarah) of Grinnell, IA; his daughter Sarah Baker of Omaha. His grandchildren, Mikaela (Zach) Abbott of Oskaloosa; Zachary Fillmore of Grinnell, Jacob Baker of Oskaloosa; Connor Whitford of Omaha; Benjamin Whitford of Omaha and two great grandchildren Sawyer and Messer. Along with his two sisters, Susan (Raymond) Arnold of Minden and Michelle (Gary) Blum of Harlan, IA.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Larry Baker; his sister Cynthia Baker, and his granddaughter Abigail Whitford.
Doug played football and wrestled during high school. He graduated from Harlan High School in 1964 and attended Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, MO. While attending, he was a student athlete on the wrestling team. The team was later inducted into the Northwest Missouri State Hall of Fame. He later went on to obtain his master's degree in administration.
Doug was a proud veteran and served his country from 1968 to 1970 in the US Army. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1969. He was awarded the purple heart.
Doug married Mary Reinig at St Mary's Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Portsmouth, IA on April 26, 1969. They were blessed with two children. Maxwell Douglas John was born June of 1974, and Sarah Mildred Mary was born January of 1978.
Doug's life was structured around discipline, and he built his career in education in the Clinton and Oskaloosa school districts. After retirement from education, he worked for Pauley Jones Funeral Home for nine years.
Doug enjoyed many things throughout his life, but family always came first. He loved the outdoors and fishing. He caught the motorcycle bug after retiring and owned multiple Harley Davidson's. He enjoyed having coffee and solving the world problems with his good friends several times a week.
Doug is survived by his loving wife, Mary of 54 years; his son Max Baker (Sarah) of Grinnell, IA; his daughter Sarah Baker of Omaha. His grandchildren, Mikaela (Zach) Abbott of Oskaloosa; Zachary Fillmore of Grinnell, Jacob Baker of Oskaloosa; Connor Whitford of Omaha; Benjamin Whitford of Omaha and two great grandchildren Sawyer and Messer. Along with his two sisters, Susan (Raymond) Arnold of Minden and Michelle (Gary) Blum of Harlan, IA.
Doug was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Larry Baker; his sister Cynthia Baker, and his granddaughter Abigail Whitford.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Douglas J. Baker, please visit our flower store.