John R Baker

John W. Baker, 84, of Cedar Falls died, Monday, November 16, 2009 at Sartori Memorial Hospital.
He was born October 29, 1925 in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of Chester Allen and Luella (Crop) Baker. John married Carol L. Dutcher on February 24, 1952 at Lehigh, Iowa. He received his B. A. from the University of Dubuque, his teaching degree from the University of Iowa, his Masters in School Administration from Drake University. He also attended Iowa State University.  In 1953 John became Principal of Ogden Junior High School and 1954 he became Elementary Principal in Ogden. In 1965  he moved to Cedar Falls and became Principal of Southdale and Humbert Schools. He became Director of Education in 1966 for the Cedar Falls Schools, retiring in 1995. Southdale School had its library named after him.

Survivors include his wife, Carol Baker, of Cedar Falls; two sons,  Jack Baker, of Des Moines and Jeffery (Mickey) Baker, of Cedar Falls; three daughters, Jody (Dave) Kuhl, of Denton, TX, Jana Baker, of Nashville, TN. and Julie (Mike) Burger, of Mesa, AZ.; twelve grandchildren, five great grandchildren; two sisters, Florence (Bill) Graham, of Tucson, AZ. and Georgia Smith, of Nashville, TN.

John was preceded in death by his parents and one infant brother.

Services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 20, at St. Timothys United Methodist Church with visitation from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, November 19 at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home and one hour before services at the church on Friday. Inurnment will be at a later date in West Lawn Cemetery at Lehigh, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to Southdale School Library. Online condolences may be left at www.DahlFuneralHome.com .