Eloise Bakke

     Eloise Bakke, age 89, of Decorah, IA, died on Thursday, January 22, 2015, at the Aase Haugen Senior Services in Decorah, IA.      Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, January 27, 2015, at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, 1725 Washington Prairie Road, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Mark Kvale presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.      Friends may call from 3:00-7:00 p.m., on Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, and also after 10:00 a.m., at the church on Tuesday morning.      Eloise (Lee) Bakke was born on February 1, 1925, on the family farm near Frankville, Iowa, the daughter of John and Ida (Wilson) Lee. Eloise was baptized and confirmed at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. She grew up in Frankville Township on a farm and attended country school and graduated from Decorah High School in 1943. Eloise was united in marriage to Andrew Bakke on June 16, 1945, at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church by Rev. Oscar Engebretson and Rev. Milo Lee. After they were married, her siblings joked that she was a bride moving into a house ‘that had chickens and hogs at the front door and tin cans behind the house’. As it turned out, Eloise and Andrew together worked very hard to make their farm one of the most beautiful farms in Winneshiek County. Together they farmed and lived on the same farm east of Decorah for many years, with Eloise being Andrew’s right hand ‘man’ all these years. She was an instrumental player of the farm, keeping the books often negotiating for the highest price when animals and grain were sold. Eloise loved to be outside taking meticulous care of the farm. She also took care of the animals to the extent of using a needle and thread to sew them up if needed. Her father-in-law, Philip thought Eloise was able to nurse any animal back to health! She was an excellent mother and role model for her children and grandchildren. Eloise thought fresh air was so important that she would have Corinne take her naps in her buggy on the porch even in the winter-time. She lived by the motto “waste not, want not” and was able to live out her dream for 69 years by living on the farm. Eloise was a wonderful cook and baker; making delicious crescent rolls and apple pies every year. One year she made 300 pies; giving them all away. She always kept herself busy in the later years by faithfully exercising outside, enjoying her meals out on the porch in the sunshine, keeping in touch with friends and neighbors by telephone, rolling bandages for her church and spending time with her faithful dog, "Sami." She was an active member of the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, Mary’s Ladies Circle, WELCA, Woodside Mission Circle and taught 4-year old Sunday School for over twenty years. Eloise also was a 4-H Leader. Eloise and Andrew enjoyed going to the River on Sundays for water skiing and picnics, turkey hunting, dancing and watching Lawrence Welk on TV.      Eloise is survived her three children: Corinne (Larry) Snell, Wausau, WI, Alan (Chris) Bakke, Marshfield, WI, and Arleen (Jan) Krueger, Decorah, IA. Four grandchildren: Stacy (Jason) Lunden, Erin Key, Allyson and Philip Bakke. Three great grandchildren: Ida and Ingrid Lunden and Adrian Smith. One sister: Elaine Syverson, Decorah, IA, along with many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.      Eloise was preceded in death by her parents: John and Ida (Wilson) Lee. Her husband: Andrew Bakke on Jan. 17, 2006. Her siblings and their spouses: Rev. Milo (Agnes) Lee, Vernon (Marcy) Lee, Harvey Lee as a child, Lily (Lloyd) Brown, Grace (Roger Dyrland and Gerald Finnegan) Finnegan, Ruth (Stanley Vorachek and Hillding Johanson) Johanson and Hazel (Elmer) Wangsness. Her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Philip and Ida (Traaserud) Bakke. One brother-in-law: Ardell Syverson. Two sisters-in-law: Phyllis Blair and Irene (Bill) Hart.