Obituaries: Baker

Posted on July 16, 2017

FAIRBURY – Donald G. Baker, 78, Fairbury, died at 10:53 p.m. Thursday, July 13, 2017 at Gibson Area Hospital, Gibson City.

Cremation rites have been accorded.  Graveside inurnment will be in Forrest Twp. Cemetery.  Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury is assisting with arrangements.

Mr. Baker was born December 15, 1938 in Pontiac, IL the son of Clarence and Helen Burtch Baker.  He married Patricia Rosenboom on December 29, 1962 in Chatsworth.  She survives in Fairbury.

Other survivors include one daughter, Rebecca (Steve) Wagner, Fairbury; one son, Eric Baker, Chatsworth; seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and one sister, Melinda Wilgus, Chandler, TX.

He is preceded in death by one son, one daughter and one sister, Louise Snyder.

Mr. Baker formerly worked at Interstate United Canteen and later Wackenhut Security at State Farm Insurance.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials be given to the Donald Baker Memorial Fund.

An online guest registry is available at www.duffypilsmemorialhome.com.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…