Howard Baker Jr., 86, of Sperry died at 9:38 p.m. Thursday, May 1, 2008, at Great River Medical Center.

            Born March 1, 1922 in Cedar Rapids, he was the son of Howard Sr. and Anna Berry Baker.  In 1934 Howard moved to Sperry.  On June 19, 1948 he married Erma Lucas in Burlington.

            Mr. Baker attended Burlington Elementary Schools and was a graduate of Sperry Consolidated High School.  He was a World War II Marine Corps veteran serving from November 20, 1942 until December 15, 1945.  He spent 35 months serving in the South Pacific.  He did carpentry work and drove trucks.  He worked at Sperry School as the custodian from 1954 until 1977.  He then worked at Schrock Lumber Co. for three years before retiring in 1987.

            Mr. Baker was a member of St. John’s Church of Flint River Township.  He enjoyed playing golf every Thursday with his son-in-law, Warren Loper.  He loved carpentry work, building two of his daughter’s homes and his home in Sperry.  He was an avid gardener, and loved reading and doing crossword puzzles.

            Survivors include his wife of over 59 years, Erma Baker of Sperry and three daughters, Barbara (Warren) Loper and Lynne (Rick) Evans both of Sperry and Karen (Curt) Nichols of Mediapolis; three grandsons, Chad and Kyle Evans and Justin Loper all of Sperry; one granddaughter, Melissa Loper of San Antonio, Texas; three step-grandchildren, Kathy (Loper) Franklin Espanto of San Antonio, Beth (Loper) Mike Moehle of Mediapolis, and Mark (Becka) Loper of Richland, Iowa; nine great-grandchildren, Breena, Brian and Brody Espanto of San Antonia, Matthew, Russell Ben and Brooklyn Moehle of Mediapolis,  Wyatt and Hollie Loper of Richland; many nieces and nephews.

            He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Fred, one sister, Eunice and one nephew, Ed Heitmeier.

           In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for St. John’s Church of Flint River Township.