Douglas Jay Baker, age 59, of Sac City, Iowa, passed away on April 18, 2006, at his resort in Remer, Minnesota.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, April 22nd, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Sac City. There is no visitation.

Doug was born on May 28, 1946, in Marshalltown, Iowa, the son of Harry Hilster Baker and Elma Marissa (Walter) Baker.  He attended Marshalltown Grade School and High School graduating in 1964.  He continued his education at Marshalltown Junior College and University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls earning his B.S. in Mathematics.  While at U. N. I. he competed on the college swim team. He went on to get Masters Degrees in Educational Psychology and Mathematics at U. N. I. 

On September 16, 1972, Doug was married to Melody Jo Aronson at Pine Lake State Park in Eldora, Iowa.  This union was blessed with a daughter, Marissa.

After getting his degree, Doug taught school in Burlington, Waterloo, and Ottumwa before moving to Sac City in 1975, teaching until May of 2003, when he took early retirement.  He also taught college level courses at Iowa Central, Fort Dodge, Hawkeye Tech, Waterloo, U. N. I., and at Buena Vista University at Storm Lake.  Doug enjoyed teaching math, coaching basketball and golf, and refereeing basketball games for many years.  His favorite hobby was fishing, but he also enjoyed bowling, golfing, and playing cribbage.  He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

In 1976 Doug and Melody purchased “In the Wilds Resort” on Swift Lake at Remer, Minnesota.  From then on his summers were spent at the resort, fishing, guiding guests to the hot spots, and “expertly” filleting their catch of the day.  Together they made many friends throughout the years, and especially loved the times with their family.

Survivors include his wife, Melody Jo Baker; daughter, Marissa Jo Baker of Sac City; brother-in-law, Gere Huebner of Park Rapids, MN; five nieces and nephews: Cindi, Kelly, Chad, Todd, and Mark; parents-in-law, Melvin and Mavis Aronson of Albert City, IA; extended family members; and many friends.

His parents, Harry and Elma Baker; two sisters, Karen Huebner and LaJune Moller; and nephew, Robert Scott Moller, preceded Doug in death.