EARL IVAN BAKER was born July 12, 1931 at his parents’ farmstead outside of Tekamah, Nebraska, to Roscoe Carson and Florence Loriene (Holiday) Baker.  He passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at the Tekamah Golden Living Center in Tekamah, at the age of 77 years.

Earl graduated from Tekamah High School in 1948.  He joined the Army on February 7, 1952, serving in the Korean conflict and was honorably discharged on October 31, 1954.

Earl was united in marriage to Kay Louise Reinert on November 21, 1954.  To this union three sons were born: David, Gregory and Philip.  The boys were raised on the farm place where Earl was born.  Earl farmed and raised hogs on the Baker homestead his entire life.   He also sold seed corn, drove a school bus, delivered milk door to door for Hillside Dairy and was a rural mail carrier for the USPS for 22 years.

Earl and Kay traveled the world by themselves and with friends during their retirement years.  They also made sure to attend every sporting and social event of their grandchildren in Pierre, South Dakota that they could.  Every fall they would travel to Enumclaw, Washington to spend time with their son David on his ranch.  Earl was active in numerous community activities and organizations up until his death.  Some of those being: Jaycees, VFW, Eight et Forty, coaching little league baseball, Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Committee and the Farm Bureau organization.  He also enjoyed bird watching, gardening, photography, his dogs and card club. He was a very active member in the First Presbyterian Church of Tekamah serving as a Sunday school teacher and on various committees. He enjoyed several mission trips with the youth including a trip to Mexico to build houses. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Rosa Hall and his loving wife of 53 years, Kay Louise.

Earl is survived by his sons and their families, David of Enumclaw, WA; Gregory (Joan) and grandchildren Ashleigh and Joshua, Phil (Marylinn) and grandchildren Jessalinn and Wylin all of Pierre, SD; brother-in-law, Roland Hall; nieces, Anita (Larry) Schmidt and Karen (Jeff) Uhing.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Tekamah.

BURIAL: Tekamah Cemetery with Military Honors by the VFW Bataan Post No. 3304 and American Legion LaFrenz Post No. 15

VISITATION: Tuesday 1- 8 p.m., family receiving friends from 5 - 7 p.m. with a 6:00 p.m. Prayer Service at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah. Visitation Wednesday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

MEMORIALS: Tekamah Office of Burt-Washington County Home Health Care and Hospice or the First Presbyterian Church of Tekamah.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

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