Wilbur Edward Baker
Born: January 28th, 1917
Died: January 8th, 2006
Obituary
Wilbur Edward Baker, 88, of Burlington, died at 6:54 PM, Sunday, January 8, 2006, at the Burlington Care Center. Born on January 28, 1917, in Mt. Union, IA he was the son of John and Maude Pauline Johnson Baker. He married Ida Mae Hendrickson on June 21, 1966, in Las Vegas, NV. She died May 28, 1973. He then married Delores Moss on November 5, 1979, in Las Vegas, NV. Mr. Baker farmed for 5 years and then worked at the Mt. Union Coop Elevator for 29 years. He retired in 1979. He was a 1935 graduate of Pleasant Lawn High School. At the start of World War II, he was the first man in Henry County to be drafted. Wilbur served in the first Infantry Division. On November 8, 1942, he invaded Africa. In 1943, he invaded Sicily. On June 6, 1944, he went to France where he was part of the Omaha Beach invasion and later fought in the Battle of the Bulge. Wilbur was awarded the Bronze and Silver Star while in World War II. He was a member of Mt. Union United Methodist Church, Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge #579, and the V.F.W. Post 10102. He was an avid Chicago Cubs fan and Iowa Hawkeye fan and an animal lover. Survivors include his wife, Delores; four stepsons, Doug (Carol) Moss of Des Moines; Denny (Susan) Moss of Burlington, Jim A. Moss of Gladstone, IL, and Boyd Hendrickson of Charles City, IA; four step grandchildren Greg Moss, Brian Moss, Brad Moss, and Angie (Moss) Hill; four step great grandchildren, three nephews, Larry (Marty) Brown of Bluegrass, Glen (Pat) Brown of Mt. Union and John (Vi) Baker of Lincoln, NE; four nieces, Janet (Max) Owens of Burlington, Delores (Kenneth) Olson of Mt. Pleasant, Betty Baker of Mt. Pleasant, and Phyllis Dennis of Broken Arrow, OK; and several great nieces and nephews. Besides his first wife he was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Horace one twin brother, Willis and one sister, Ethel Brown. Visitation will begin after noon, Tuesday, January 10, at the Hass-Thielen Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6:00 PM until 7:30 PM The Funeral Service for Mr. Baker will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday, January 11, in the Chapel of the Hass-Thielen Funeral Home, with Pastor Chris Roepke officiating. Full military honors will be rendered by the Veterans Honor Guard, VFW Posts 10102, 9162, American Legion Post 52, Hamilton-Walters Marine Corps League, and AMVETS Post 29. Interment will be in Aspen Grove Cemetery. Memorials have been established for Great River Hospice and Mt. Union United Methodist Church.