Foster Gail Baker

1924 - 2021

FOSTER GAIL BAKER Iowa City Foster Gail Baker, 97, of Iowa City passed away on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at his home surrounded by family. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service, Iowa City, with Pastor Leigh Brown officiating. The family will greet friends at a visitation from 1 to 3 p.m. at the funeral home before the service. Coffee and pastries will be served following the service. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations to Iowa City Public Library or Iowa City Hospice. Condolences may be mailed to 1213 Marcy St., Iowa City, IA 52240. Foster was born in Maryville, Mo., on April 17, 1924, son of Gail Baker and Katherine Hilsenbeck Baker. He graduated from Maryville High School and Northwest Missouri State University. At age 20, he joined the Army Air Corps (U.S. Air Force) and trained as an aviation navigator. He always loved flying in those old planes. Foster married his hometown sweetheart, Betty Lou McDonald, the love of his life, on Aug. 14, 1948. He completed his Master's Degree in mathematics in 1960 at Kansas University, Lawrence, Kan., always liking the colorful Jay Hawk mascot. He taught mathematics and science in numerous small towns in Missouri and Kansas until, seeking a better education for his then five kids, moved his family to Iowa City. He taught math (algebra, geometry, calculus, trigonometry) to thousands of high school students at City High for 30 years and was fondly nicknamed "Flash" by his students. Simultaneously, he taught mathematics classes as the longest-running correspondence (distance learning) adjunct instructor in the University of Iowa math department, for 50 years, retiring from that position at age 89. Foster was an intellectual. Though a mathematician by profession, he was an avid reader of current events, global events, politics, literature, and art. He LOVED good coffee; Java House was his favorite. He loved downtown Iowa City and hanging out at the coffee shops frequented by Iowa Writer's Workshop people. He always liked the iconic downtown Iowa City businesses and frequented John's Grocery, Pearson's, Hamburg Inn, George's, Mott's Drug Store and Prairie Lights Bookstore. Foster was famous for his curly hair!! Even at 97, he had a full head of hair. One of his greatest prides was his grandchildren and what decent adults they've grown to be, with solid futures and family values. His legacy of love continues. Foster is survived by his wife, Betty Baker; their six children, Stephen Baker, Diane Baker (Chris Woodhouse), Cynthia Baker (all of Iowa City), April Baker (North Liberty), David Baker (Haslett, Mich.) and Tracy (Julie) Baker (Davenport); grandchildren, Amy Baker (Rick) Svendsen (Rochester, Minn.), Mark Baker (Denver, Colo.), Kael (Kaitlin) Hankins (Ainsworth), Abbie Gruwell (Alexandria, Va.), Kelda Hankins (Cedar Rapids), Benjamin Baker (North Liberty), Erik Hankins (Oxford), Clare Hankins (Iowa City), Daniel Baker (North Liberty) and Annette Baker (Davenport); and great-grandchildren, Parker and Carter Svendsen (Rochester, Minn.). He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Stanley Wallace Baker; and his daughter-in-law, Sue Lundquist Baker. A full obituary may be viewed, and online condolences made at www.lensingfuneral.com.