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Paul J. Baker, 66, of Creston, died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, at University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska. A mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 107 W. Howard St. in Creston. Father Patrick Amedaka will officiate. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Creston. The mass will not be live streamed. Open visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m., with family receiving friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24. A rosary will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, with sharing to follow, all at the Powers Funeral Home in Creston.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Malachy School and to Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Online condolences may be given at www.powersfh.com.
Paul Joseph Baker was born July 17, 1956, to Mary Catharine (Miller) and Dennis Joseph Baker in Creston. He graduated from Creston High School in 1974 and from Southwestern Community College with a degree in agricultural business.
On Oct. 23, 1976, Paul married Lynn D. Keenan in Creston. Together they had two daughters, Melissa and Meredith. Paul and Lynn settled and farmed all of their married life in Union County.
Memberships include: Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Holy Spirit Parish Council, Knights of Columbus, Union County Cattlemen, Pork Producers and the Sale Barn Club. His highlights include: Union County Cattleman of the Year 2016, FFA Pride Award 2007-08, Spirit of St. Malachy 2015, Member of the 1972 CHS Hall of Fame Wrestling Team and Knights of Columbus Family of the Year 1994.
Other celebrated life happenings of Paul: confirmation sponsor to at least 20 people, has 13 Godchildren (Lynn has 14), six nieces and nephews, hundreds of honorary children and grandchildren, professional baby-holder and joke-teller, the author of 5:30 a.m. daily inspirational texts, lifelong Union County fair supporter, Union County Cattleman’s “senior” advisory board member, #1 “crazy gator ride” driver, “mass coordinator” and RAGBRAI bus driver turned bike rider for Team Tip Top.
Paul is survived by his wife Lynn Baker of Creston; daughters, Melissa (Rocky Malloy) Baker of Cedar Rapids and Meredith (Don) Wulf of Creston; two grandchildren, Londyn and Hattie Wulf; one brother, John (Retta) Baker of Creston, two sisters, Annette (Rick) Rice of Creston and Alicia (Reda) Hamze of Omaha, Nebraska; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.
Paul is preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Joan Baker in 1971, his father and mother-in-law, Lee and Sheryl Keenan and a sister-in-law, LeAnn Keenan.