JAMES DOUGLAS BAKER

JAMES DOUGLAS BAKER, 62, of Columbia City, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, while vacationing in Ireland. Born in Fort Wayne, Jim was the son of the late Irvin "Bud" and Ruth (Shondell) Baker. He was a 1973 graduate of Wayne High School and earned his Associate's degree in Electrical Engineering at Ivy Tech. He worked for International Harvester / Navistar for 38 years, retiring in 2012. During the lean times, he worked for ARA and Falstaff Brewery. On July 12, 1975, Jim married his high school sweetheart, Deborah Palmer, and raised four children. They recently celebrated their 42nd anniversary. Jim was active in the Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana; and enjoyed woodworking, his home at the lake, playing games and spending time with his family and friends. He was a jack-of-all-trades and didn't shy from sharing his often sarcastic opinions. His wisdom will be sorely missed. Surviving are Jim's wife, Deborah; children, Daniel (Allison), Brian (Kirsten) and Diana Baker, and Brenda (Jeremiah) Lenegar; sister, Donita (Kenneth) Shiveler; and grandchildren, Madeleine, James and Oskar Baker, Beau and Jacob David, and Chase and Dane Lenegar. Jim was also preceded in death by his two sisters, Carol Jean and Lisa Kay. Memorial service is 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, at The History Center, 302 East Berry St., Fort Wayne, with calling beginning at 1 p.m. until the start of the service. Memorials may be made to the PSC Partners Seeking a Cure or the Alpha-1 Foundation.