Catherine Rose Baker

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Catherine Rose Baker, 86, of Wamego, KS passed away Thursday, August 1, 2019 at Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan, KS.

  On April 9, 1933 Catherine was born to Martin and Gertrude (Tauer) O’Connell in Wamego.  She graduated from Wamego High School on May 23, 1950 She was united in marriage with George Robert “Bob” Baker on May 1, 1954 at St. Bernard Catholic Church.  He preceded her in death on January 5, 2006.

  Catherine started working for Farm Bureau in Manhattan as a secretary out of high school.  She then ran a day care for 15 years as she helped raise her own children.  She also worked for KDOT as a secretary.  After Catherine retired, she worked in the lunch program at the Wamego Middle School. 

  Catherine loved spending time with her family.  She enjoyed going to all of her children and grandchildren’s events.  She also enjoyed cooking, baking, tending to her flower garden, bird watching and sewing.  Catherine was a member of the Kaw Valley Heritage Club and the St. Bernard Catholic Church, where she helped with funeral dinners for many years and was a lay minister.

  She is survived by five sons, Mike Baker (Cindy), Phoenix, AZ, Tony Baker, Columbus, OH, Jim Baker (Bev), Olathe, KS, Steve Baker (Janet), Olathe, KS, and Brian Baker, Louisville, KY; three daughters, Patty Fujimoto (Gregg), Aiea, HI, Nancy Sackrider (Steve), Wamego, KS and Debbie Dyer (John), Wamego, KS; one sister, Mary West (Dave), Ft. Worth, TX; a former daughter-in-law, Erika Turner, Wamego, KS; nineteen grandchildren, Andrew Baker (Mandy), Lindsey Baker, Nick Baker (Carly) Thomas Baker, Zac Fujimoto (Kimi), Kristyn Fujimoto, Jeff Sackrider, Melissa Fankhauser (Aaron), Katelyn Sackrider, Zach Baker (Audrey), Audrey Baker, Caleb Baker (Lorri), Jordan Baker, Eli Fell (Jessica), Brandon Baker (Amber), Jennifer Krause (Nicholas), Tyler Baker (Josie), Jennifer Dyer, and Heather Dyer; five nephews, David, Doug, Mark, Patrick and John; two nieces, Jeri and Cheri; and twenty-seven great-grandchildren.

  She is also preceded in death by her parents, a son, Rick Baker; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Baker; and a grandson, Cody Baker.

  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at the St. Bernard Catholic Church in Wamego.  Burial will follow in the St. Bernard Cemetery.  Rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m. Monday, August 5th with visitation to follow until 8:00 p.m. at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego.  The family has suggested memorials to the St. Bernard Catholic Church or the One Dog at a Time for pet rescue in Manhattan, and may be left in care of Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547