Alma Louise Baker

Alma Louise Baker - 88 2/25/1923 - 12/29/2011

Leaf River, IL - Alma Louise Baker, 88 of Leaf River, died on December 29, 2011 in Rockford. Alma was born February 25, 1923 in rural Leaf River. She was the daughter of William and Louise (Kreimeyer) Hartje. She married Emerson Baker December 24, 1941 who passed away October 28, 1998. She was a graduate of Leaf River High School, Class of 1940. She was an employee of the Leaf River Post Office after graduation. Later for the war effort, she worked at J.I. Case Co, building wings for B-26 bombers until the contract ended. Then worked at Burgess Battery, making batteries for the Army Signal Corp. She was secretary at the Leaf River Schools for 22 years. After retirement she worked part time at the Leaf River Branch Bank. She was an active member of the Leaf River Methodist church for 70 years, teaching Sunday School for over 40 years. She was a member of the Christian Womens Club, guiding Stonecroft Bible studies. She was the charter president of the Leaf River American Legion Auxiliary and a member for 58 years. Past member of the the Ogle Co Rural Carriers Auxiliary and the Ogle Co Home Bureau. She is survived by two daughters: Suzanne Wickam and Teresa Campbell. 6 grandchildren: Mike (Molly) Wickam of Plymouth, MN, Jay (Natalie) Campbell of Genoa, IL, Kara (Denny) Jackson of Kingston, Jill (Richard ) Lavender of Genoa, Krista Campbell of Chicago and Anne (David) Jones of Winter Park, FL. 14 great grandchildren. Also survived by 2 sisters, Berniece Davis and Lorraine Cheek. Predeceased by her husband, Emerson, a son-in-law, Jerry Wickam, her parents, 5 sisters: Dorothy, Esther, Ruth, Irma and Aggie and 5 brothers: Rudy, Alfred, Arnold, Clifford and William. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at Finch Funeral Home 405 E Hitt St. Mt Morris, IL. with a visitation from 9:30 am until service time. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Freeport, IL. Memorials to the Leaf River United Methodist Church and the Jerry Wickam American Legion. Visitation: Tuesday, January 3, 2012 9:30 - 11:00 am Finch Funeral Home Service: Tuesday, January 3, 2012 11:00 am Finch Funeral Home