Bob Harry Baker

Robert Harry Baker was born in Whitefish, Montana on May 14, 1950 and died peacefully at the Northfield Hospital, Northfield, MN on March 1, 2026. His family moved from Montana on the edge of Glacier National Park, to West Hempstead, in Nassau County on Long Island, New York where Bob graduated from West Hempstead High School. During his high school years Bob was involved with music, and following that worked so that he could proudly pay rent while he stayed at home. The Baker family moved from New York to Oshkosh, Wisconsin; during the following years Bob was a frequent volunteer and helper at Bethel Lutheran Homes, where his dad was the Chaplain. Bob did restaurant work, lived independently for a time, and enjoyed everything from singing at the nursing home to bowling. The move was a good one and in these years he continued to develop the work ethic he modeled in his life. In Northfield he began a long career, working for McDonald's for 33 years. While in Northfield he sang with the Faribault Lakelanders Barbershop group, as well as his church choir at St. Peter's Lutheran Church and the local Troubadours, a male chorus from the Northfield area.

After retiring Bob moved to an apartment in the Northfield Retirement Center. He was of a very independent mind-set and, in spite of multiple disabilities, he lived life large, with great humor and enthusiasm. Music and singing were his joy and kept him going to the end, as he died singing with his niece at his hospital bed. Many have been blessed by sharing a good cup of coffee with Bob, by his smile, and his positive attitude.

Bob is survived by three sisters, Barbara Birkeland (Paul), Carol Baker, and Betty Reiman (Marlin), 4 nieces and nephew, and 7 grandnieces and grandnephews. Memorials are suggested for St. Peter's Lutheran, Church, Northfield, MN.

A Celebration of Bob's Life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 7 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church of Northfield. Visitation will be held for one hour prior from 10-11 AM. Bob will be laid to rest at Oaklawn Cemetery in Northfield. Arrangements are with the Bierman, Benson, & Langehough Funeral Home. www.northfieldfuneral.com