Leola "Lee" Fay Baker
December 12, 1922 — March 15, 2007
Leola Fay Baker “Lee” was born on December 12, 1922, to Lafe and Myrtle (McMurphy) Fairchild on a farm east of Irwin, Iowa. Lee attended country grade school east of Irwin, Iowa, and graduated from Manning High School, Manning, Iowa, with the class of 1941. While in high school she took teacher training classes and taught country school near Irwin.
In 1943, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where she began her career in the restaurant business. On November 11, 1945, Lee was united in marriage to Harold “Jake” Baker and moved to Harlan, Iowa, where they continued to live and raise their family of five children: Larry, Doug, Susan, Cynthia, and Michelle.
Lee was in the restaurant business for twenty some years as either a chef or a manager. In Lee’s later years she was employed at Western Iowa Pork, Concerned, Inc., and Communications Data Services (CDS) until retiring in November of 2000.
Lee liked being outdoors and going horse back riding. Every summer she would can tomatoes from the garden she and Jake grew. Lee enjoyed taking family vacations to Lake Okoboji, playing cards with her grandchildren, playing bingo and going to the casinos to play the slots with her daughters Susan and Michelle. She also enjoyed visiting with her brother and sisters.
Lee spent time taking care of her husband Jake as his health was failing. As they were preparing to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, Jake died on March 19, 1994.
Lee died at the Avoca Nursing Home in Avoca, Iowa, on March 15, 2007, having attained the age of eighty-four years, three months and three days. Lee was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Cynthia, one sister Noreen Pietanze, and her sister-in-law Barb Fairchild.
She is survived by two sons: Larry Baker of Nashville, Tennessee, Doug and his wife Mary Baker of Harlan, Iowa, two daughters: Susan and her husband Raymond Arnold of Minden, Iowa, Michelle and her husband Gary Blum of Harlan, Iowa; thirteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four sisters: Leona Erb of Harlan, Iowa, Ramona Peterson of Harlan, Iowa, Irma Weber of Audubon, Iowa, and Dixie and her husband Donald Andersen of Irwin, Iowa; one brother, Kelly Fairchild of Harlan, Iowa; and one brother in-law Pete Pietanze of Omaha, Nebraska, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 10:00 AM at the Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Rev. Bob Hoefler and Pastor Nancy Ross-Hullinger were the officiating clergy. Serving as casket bearers were Max Baker, Lisa Beckmann, Troy Baker, Kip Arnold, Sarah Whitford, Kelsey Brewer, Kory Arnold, and Jessica Brewer. Interment was at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.
Pauley Jones Funeral Home has put speakers in their garage and called it their Lee Baker Memorial Sound System.
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In 1943, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where she began her career in the restaurant business. On November 11, 1945, Lee was united in marriage to Harold “Jake” Baker and moved to Harlan, Iowa, where they continued to live and raise their family of five children: Larry, Doug, Susan, Cynthia, and Michelle.
Lee was in the restaurant business for twenty some years as either a chef or a manager. In Lee’s later years she was employed at Western Iowa Pork, Concerned, Inc., and Communications Data Services (CDS) until retiring in November of 2000.
Lee liked being outdoors and going horse back riding. Every summer she would can tomatoes from the garden she and Jake grew. Lee enjoyed taking family vacations to Lake Okoboji, playing cards with her grandchildren, playing bingo and going to the casinos to play the slots with her daughters Susan and Michelle. She also enjoyed visiting with her brother and sisters.
Lee spent time taking care of her husband Jake as his health was failing. As they were preparing to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, Jake died on March 19, 1994.
Lee died at the Avoca Nursing Home in Avoca, Iowa, on March 15, 2007, having attained the age of eighty-four years, three months and three days. Lee was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Cynthia, one sister Noreen Pietanze, and her sister-in-law Barb Fairchild.
She is survived by two sons: Larry Baker of Nashville, Tennessee, Doug and his wife Mary Baker of Harlan, Iowa, two daughters: Susan and her husband Raymond Arnold of Minden, Iowa, Michelle and her husband Gary Blum of Harlan, Iowa; thirteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four sisters: Leona Erb of Harlan, Iowa, Ramona Peterson of Harlan, Iowa, Irma Weber of Audubon, Iowa, and Dixie and her husband Donald Andersen of Irwin, Iowa; one brother, Kelly Fairchild of Harlan, Iowa; and one brother in-law Pete Pietanze of Omaha, Nebraska, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
A funeral service was held on Saturday, March 17, 2007 at 10:00 AM at the Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa. Rev. Bob Hoefler and Pastor Nancy Ross-Hullinger were the officiating clergy. Serving as casket bearers were Max Baker, Lisa Beckmann, Troy Baker, Kip Arnold, Sarah Whitford, Kelsey Brewer, Kory Arnold, and Jessica Brewer. Interment was at the Harlan Cemetery in Harlan, Iowa.
Pauley Jones Funeral Home has put speakers in their garage and called it their Lee Baker Memorial Sound System.
PDF Printable Version
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