"Terry, My thoughts and Prayers are with you and your family. I am sure she will be missed by all."
In loving memory of
Cleo Helen Baker
May 15, 1930 - March 20, 2014
Dateline: Blakesburg
Cleo Helen Baker, age 83, of Blakesburg, died Thursday morning, March, 20, 2014 at the Monroe Care Center in Albia. She was born on May 15, 1930 in Monroe County to Leonard and Leona (Sleeth) Brewer
Cleo graduated from Albia High School, class of 1948. She married Don Baker on March 26, 1949 at the United Brethren Church in Albia. They were blessed with five children: Don, Terry, Gary, Cathy, and Vicki. She was a homemaker. She also worked at Rowe Drugstore in Ottumwa, Neva's Noodles and Chamberlains in Albia. She was a member of the Blakesburg Methodist Church. She enjoyed playing bingo, fishing, camping, going to her children and grandchildren's sporting events, and she especially enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren. Cleo was very active in all the community events and activities in Blakesburg.
She is survived by her husband, Don Baker of Blakesburg; children, Don L. (Deborah) Baker of Newark, DE, Terry W. (Kinda) Baker of Ottumwa, Gary (Corrie) Baker of Kelley, IA, Cathy (Lonny) Reck of Blakesburg, Vicki (Rodney) Curtis of Blakesburg, grandchildren, Jennifer Timmermann, Jessica Hawley, Alan, Aaron, Travis, and Dustin Baker, Jason, and Eric Lyons, Brent, Brandon, and Paige Reck, Colton, and Bethany Reinhard, Kody Curtis, fourteen great grandchildren, one sister, Genevieve Emanuel of Midlothian, TX, and one brother, Leo Brewer of Fort Collins, CO. She is preceded in death by her parents, one granddaughter, Angela Baker, one great grandson, Kenneth Baker, and siblings, Donald Brewer, Harold Brewer, Velta Zanoni, Donna Eastlick.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am Monday, March 24, 2014 at the Blakesburg Methodist Church with Rev Jim Ellis and Rev Jim Matheny officiating. Cleo will be cremated following services and a private family burial will be held in Blakesburg Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be on Sunday, March 23, 2014, opening to the public at 12:00 pm and family will be present from 6-8 pm Sunday evening at Sinnott Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Albia.
Memorials will be directed to the Blakesburg Methodist Church, or to The Welcome Home Soldier fund of Albia. Online condolences may be left for the family at sinnottfuneralhome.com. Services entrusted with Sinnott Pierschbacher Funeral Homes.
Tributes
"Sorry for your loss. You are in our prayers."
"So sorry for your loss! Our thoughts and prayers to the Baker family. Laurie Lenz and family (daughter of Paula Poncy (James) "
"I would stay with Don and Cleo whenever I got a chance, always a good time and she was a good cook. My favorite rememberance whenever we went anywhere she would drive till she would find the best parking space, to this day when I get a good parking place we call it a "Cleo" She was fun! She would give me good advice and I loved her very much."
"Even though we lived far from each other, I knew Cleo loved me and we had kindred spirits. When I think of her I remember, bingo, bingo, bingo, Yahtzee, chocolate chip cookies that NO ONE else can make like she did, shopping, the twinkle in her eyes when she had a feisty thought but wasn't saying it ... and the laughter when she did say it... and so much more. I loved her very much and will miss her always. Heaven's lights are brighter now for the rest of us."
"I lived with Don & Cleo for 2 years (fresh off the farm). She taught me many things, one of which was how to make a great tenderloin sandwich. We did a lot of shopping (Thursday nights in Ottumwa) and going to movies. Later in life she taught me how to make great noodles. I couldn't of done it without her knowledge and experience. Cleo was more like a sister then sister-in-law and I will greatly miss her smile and unique laughter. Lola"
"With love from Texas."
"Don, so sorry to hear about Cleo. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time. Pauline MCGinn Steinbach."
"My grandma Cleo would always let me and my sister play with her jewelry, she never kept it from us or said we couldn't touch it. We did not get to see her often, but we loved going to Grandma's house and she was a wonderful woman. I appreciate getting to see her last summer, and she gave me a pair of earrings. She still remembered how I loved her jewelry. Thanks Grandma, and I will miss you very much. I love you"
"My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this sad time. It's not easy saying goodbye to a mother,but may you find comfort in knowing she lives on in your wonderful memories and through them her spirit will always be near."