Carol Baker

Carol Baker, age 90 of Decorah, IA, passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at Ossian Care Center in Ossian, IA surrounded by family.

Celebration of life will be 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. on July 3, 2025, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water St., Decorah, IA. Please wear bright colors in memory of Carol.

Burial will be in Phelps Cemetery.

Memorials or cards may be sent to the family at: 505 Hillcrest Drive, Decorah, IA 52101

Carol was born on November 15, 1934, in Vinton, IA. She was the daughter of Philip J and Thelma J (Kagley) Anderson. She attended Vinton High School, where she was Homecoming Queen, and graduated in 1952. She moved to Waterloo shortly after graduation and attended Iowa State Teacher’s College, now UNI, where she graduated with a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. She married John F. Baker on August 14, 1959, the same day he received an acceptance letter to the U of Iowa Dental School. To pay for dental school, Carol taught 1st grade in Tama, IA, and Iowa City, IA, before moving to Decorah in the summer of 1963, where they were lifelong residents.  Although she loved teaching, she gave it up to raise her family before working for many years as receptionist/office manager for John’s dental practice, where her warm smile helped ease patients’ “dental anxiety”.

Son Michael was born in 1962, James in 1963, and daughters Kristin in 1965, and Karin in 1968. She had six lovely grandchildren and, despite not being a sports fan, she attended their events in football, wrestling, swimming, volleyball, baseball, softball, soccer, dance recitals, and state fair trips, as well as board games and movies. She loved the annual trip to the lake, where she taught the grandchildren an appreciation for visits to the local diner, sunsets, and blue herons.

Carol was active in the community and a member of many bridge, book, and investment clubs, the Hospital Auxiliary and gift shop, the city planning committee for a new pool, Nordic Fest volunteer, and Decorah Lutheran Women’s Circle. An avid baker and cook, she was featured in Decorah newspapers “Creative Cooks of Winneshiek County” in 1981, enjoyed hosting neighbors and friends for cards, dinners, cookouts, and “Hawk” parties, even baking cakes for many Luther students’ birthdays. She enjoyed knitting and needle work until rheumatoid arthritis attacked her hands and joints. She suffered from RA for over 40 years including multiple surgeries and fractured bones, before leading to pulmonary fibrosis and COPD, which eventually led to her death. While never complaining about her ailments, she inspired her children with a cheerful and welcoming personality, living her life by the motto “Always believe something wonderful is about to happen”.

She is survived by husband John, brother Ronald (Deb), sister-in-law Linda, sons Mike (Kelly) and Jim, daughters Kris (Nick) and Karin (Todd), as well as grandchildren Jonathan, Ryan, Philip, Kyler, Isabel, and Kayleigh.

Carol was preceded in death by parents Philip and Thelma, and brother Robert.