Otto Baker Obituary (1908 - 2004) - Menomonie, Wisconsin

OLSON FUNERAL HOME & Cremation Services "SINCE 1917" 615 Wilson Ave., Menomonie, WI 54751 PHONE: 715 235-2154 FAX: 715 235-2155 E-Mail: olsonfh@olsonfh.net Web: www.olsonfh.net OTTO P. BAKER Otto P. Baker, age 96, of Menomonie, WI died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004 at the American Lutheran Home in Menomonie. He was born Feb. 24, 1908 in Menomonie, WI to Frederick and Helena (Korbein) Baker. Otto graduated from Menomonie High School in 1926, from Dunn County Normal School in 1927, from Stout Institute in 1933 with a B.S. Degree and received his Masters Degree from Stout in 1950. Otto married the former Marion Anderson on July 3, 1937 in Menomonie. Otto taught two years in rural schools of Dunn County. He was vocational school director in Menomonie from 1936 through 1943. During that time besides his normal duties, he organized and supervised special training classes at Stout to prepare local adults for employment in related war production industries. As soon as this program ended, he was commissioned as a LT (jg) in the U.S. Navy. He served in Gulfport, Mississippi where he assisted with the training of instructors for the Navy. In 1946, he was honorably discharged as a Navy Lieutenant. He was employed by the Navy Department as an education specialist and was sent to Norfolk, VA to aid in setting up an Instructor Training Program. In 1951, he was transferred to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center where he continued his work as an education specialist. Upon retirement Otto and Marion moved back to Menomonie where he was employed by the University of Wisconsin Stout as a supervisor of student teaching. Following that he was employed by the vocational technical school as a supervisor of police training courses. Otto loved sports having played football in high school, basketball at Dunn County Normal, and lettering in baseball at Stout, and also playing for the Wakanda Braves. In later years he loved the game of golf still playing this past summer. Otto was a member of the American Legion, the Moose Lodge, the Menomonie Lions Club, Epsilon Pi Tau Fraternity, and Christ Lutheran Church. Otto is survived by: A sister, Adeline Lee of Menomonie Several nieces and nephews. And other relatives and friends He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marion; five brothers and four sisters. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, Oct. 21, 2004 at Christ Lutheran Church in Menomonie, with Rev. Rolf Morck officiating. Burial will be in Christ Lutheran/Halvorson Cemetery in Menomonie with Military Honors by the Menomonie Veterans Honor Guard. Family and friends may call from 4:00 to 7:00 PM Wednesday at Olson Funeral Home in Menomonie and at the church one hour prior to the service on Thursday. Memorials may be given to Christ Lutheran Church or the American Lutheran Home in Menomonie.