Obituary for Thomas Warren Baker
Thomas Warren Baker passed away October 23, 2021, after a courageous battle with lung disease. Thomas was born May 22, 1941, to Frank D. and Helen (Burhenn) Baker.
Tom grew up in the little mountain town of Morrison near the Red Rocks in Colorado. He attended a school built in 1875 and graduated from Bear Creek High School where he played the drums in a dance band and was on the wrestling team. Throughout his youth, Tom raced cars at Erie and Castle Rock, participated in rodeo and played Cowboy Polo.
When the call came, Tom enlisted in the Army on December 6, 1963, served two years, and achieved the rank of E-5 serving in Company C, 84th Engineering Battalion in Vietnam where he was a crane operator constructing hospitals, runways, and Special Forces Camps.
After the military Tom worked for the Denver Water Board and then in 1974 with his wife, Juanita, and his daughters, Valerie, and Laurie, moved to their current farm at Minatare, Nebraska. Ruts of the Mormon Trail could be found in the meadows of the 320 acres of irrigated farm where Tom raised Angus cattle, hay, and corn.
Tom was mechanic extraordinaire and kept the farm running for 50 years. In conjunction with his knowledge of animal husbandry he had learned on his family farm in Colorado. He always joked he loved fixing fence; looking forward to continual machinery breakdowns; the constant wind and weather mood swings, with possible 50° temperature change in one day; or being chased by an irate momma cow while trying to process her new-born calf.
The joy of Tom’s life was his two daughters, Valerie and Laurie, with whom he shared much of his wisdom about life. Valerie followed in her father’s footsteps and joined the US. Air Force completing a twenty-five-year career as a Lieutenant Colonel; she served twelve deployments, two tours in Iraq and traveling almost three times around the world. When she retired, she returned to Minatare to run the family farm. Laurie followed her father’s interest in horses and was Miss Rodeo Nebraska and currently is a wholesale banker working with government entities at US Bank in Elko, Nevada.
In addition to farming Thomas worked at the Great Western Sugar Company and served on the Minatare School Board and Minatare Mutual Canal Irrigation Company.
Tom is survived by his loving wife, Juanita; daughters, Valerie Baker (Clifford Brabson) Minatare, Nebraska, and Laurie Baker Reutner (Scott) Elko, Nevada; sister, Barbara Jean Carney (Gary) Paul, Idaho;
nieces, DeAnn Richins, Idaho, Susan Williams, Idaho, and Robin Baker, Colorado; nephews, Paul Carney, Idaho, and Terry Baker, Colorado; cousins, Judy Meyers-Colorado and Carla Watts-Arizona; and many grand and great nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Helen Baker; brother, Stan Baker; nephews, Steve Baker and Larry Baker; and grandnephew, Ryon Carney.
In spring when the wildflowers are in bloom a memorial service will be held at the Morrison Cemetery, Morrison, Colorado where Tom will join many of his family members in eternal rest including his Father, Grandfathers and Great Grandfather. Online condolences may be left at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Scottsbluff is assisting the family with arrangements.
Tom grew up in the little mountain town of Morrison near the Red Rocks in Colorado. He attended a school built in 1875 and graduated from Bear Creek High School where he played the drums in a dance band and was on the wrestling team. Throughout his youth, Tom raced cars at Erie and Castle Rock, participated in rodeo and played Cowboy Polo.
When the call came, Tom enlisted in the Army on December 6, 1963, served two years, and achieved the rank of E-5 serving in Company C, 84th Engineering Battalion in Vietnam where he was a crane operator constructing hospitals, runways, and Special Forces Camps.
After the military Tom worked for the Denver Water Board and then in 1974 with his wife, Juanita, and his daughters, Valerie, and Laurie, moved to their current farm at Minatare, Nebraska. Ruts of the Mormon Trail could be found in the meadows of the 320 acres of irrigated farm where Tom raised Angus cattle, hay, and corn.
Tom was mechanic extraordinaire and kept the farm running for 50 years. In conjunction with his knowledge of animal husbandry he had learned on his family farm in Colorado. He always joked he loved fixing fence; looking forward to continual machinery breakdowns; the constant wind and weather mood swings, with possible 50° temperature change in one day; or being chased by an irate momma cow while trying to process her new-born calf.
The joy of Tom’s life was his two daughters, Valerie and Laurie, with whom he shared much of his wisdom about life. Valerie followed in her father’s footsteps and joined the US. Air Force completing a twenty-five-year career as a Lieutenant Colonel; she served twelve deployments, two tours in Iraq and traveling almost three times around the world. When she retired, she returned to Minatare to run the family farm. Laurie followed her father’s interest in horses and was Miss Rodeo Nebraska and currently is a wholesale banker working with government entities at US Bank in Elko, Nevada.
In addition to farming Thomas worked at the Great Western Sugar Company and served on the Minatare School Board and Minatare Mutual Canal Irrigation Company.
Tom is survived by his loving wife, Juanita; daughters, Valerie Baker (Clifford Brabson) Minatare, Nebraska, and Laurie Baker Reutner (Scott) Elko, Nevada; sister, Barbara Jean Carney (Gary) Paul, Idaho;
nieces, DeAnn Richins, Idaho, Susan Williams, Idaho, and Robin Baker, Colorado; nephews, Paul Carney, Idaho, and Terry Baker, Colorado; cousins, Judy Meyers-Colorado and Carla Watts-Arizona; and many grand and great nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Helen Baker; brother, Stan Baker; nephews, Steve Baker and Larry Baker; and grandnephew, Ryon Carney.
In spring when the wildflowers are in bloom a memorial service will be held at the Morrison Cemetery, Morrison, Colorado where Tom will join many of his family members in eternal rest including his Father, Grandfathers and Great Grandfather. Online condolences may be left at www.bridgmanfuneralhome.com. Bridgman Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Scottsbluff is assisting the family with arrangements.