Shirley H. Baker

Shirley H. Baker, 83, of Wykoff, MN, walked through the gates of Heaven into the arms of Jesus on Saturday, July 27, 2019, at St. Marys Hospital – Mayo Clinic Campus in Rochester, MN.

Funeral services will be held at Fillmore Free Methodist Church Thursday, August 1, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Tim Ward officiating. Burial will be in Fillmore Cemetery Fillmore, MN. Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 30, 2019, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Fillmore Free Methodist Church, and will continue at the church for one hour prior to the service on Thursday. 

Shirley Hazel Romanchak was born February 3, 1936, daughter of John and Barbara (Sayka) Romanchak in Detroit, Michigan.  She graduated from David McKenzie High School in 1953.  Shirley met Herb Baker while he was stationed in Detroit with the Army.  On November 24, 1956, the couple married.  Shirley was very good with numbers and worked for a jewelry company as a bookkeeper.  She became the bookkeeper for Baker’s Concrete Construction the company Herb and Shirley built together over the last 50 years. 

Shirley’s faith was very important to her.  When Shirley and Herb moved back to Wykoff, they attended Fillmore Free Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school and Bible School.  Shirley also volunteered her time on the Baccalaureate Board at Wykoff High School.  She liked to crochet, spend time in her flower and vegetable gardens, and go on motorcycle rides and trips with Herb.  Shirley collected Precious Moments figurines, and was a member of the Precious Moments Collectors Club.  When she was not in her garden or with family, you might find her enjoying a cup of coffee with her friends at the Silver Grille in Chatfield.

The most essential part of Shirley’s life was her family, and she was very proud of them.  She loved being with family, taking care of their needs, and teaching them parts of her Russian heritage.  Shirley was known to host large holiday celebrations that incorporated Russian foods.  At Easter and Christmas family looked forward to Easter bread and pierogi’s, and any time you asked there was always cottage cheese.     

Shirley is survived by her 3 children Rebecca (Bruce) Thompson of Fountain, MN, John (Jane) Baker of Wykoff, MN, and Nancy (Mike) Liedel of Dundee, MI, 9 grandchildren Wade (Cheyanne) Baker, Kelly Ramaker, Daniel (Tasha Duellman) Ramaker, Melanie Thompson, Matthew Thompson, Tyler (Mandi) Baker, Andrew (Paisley) Baker, McKenzie (George) Ruehs, and Wyatt Liedel, 19 great grandchildren, 6 great great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Herb on August 18, 2016, and all of her siblings. 

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