Jerry G. Baker

Jerry Baker, 83 of Aledo, died August 12, 2024, at Avonlea Cottage, Milan. Funeral services will be Saturday, August 17th at 2:00 PM at Speer Funeral Home, Aledo, with visitation prior to services beginning at 12:00 PM. Burial will be in Aledo Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Mercer County Animal Shelter or to the Mercer County FFA for the Car Restoration Project. In honor of Jerry’s love for all things Hawaiian, the family asks everyone to wear their favorite Hawaiian attire. 

Jerry Gene Baker was born on November 28, 1940, in Macomb, Illinois the son of Lloyd & Dona (Brown) Baker. He married Ella Mae Schreiber on March 24, 1961, in Burgess, Illinois. She preceded him in death on January 1, 2019.

Jerry lived in the Sunbeam area for many years where he built one of the first hog confinements and grain legs in Mercer County. After retiring from farming, Jerry drove trucks for many years for local farmers and quarries in the quad cities. He also worked for Don Zenk for several years. After driving trucks, he started farming again, where he enjoyed raising cattle.

Jerry and Ella Mae enjoyed traveling to Hawaii and Mexico and taking the boys to the Ozarks when they were young. He was always restoring a car or truck, his favorites being a 1969 Corvette and a 1966 Chevy Truck. Jerry was also talented at carving boots and shoes and gardening. He cherished his canine companions, with Lucy being his latest. Jerry loved being a grandpa, and attended his grandsons’ sporting events, where he especially enjoyed wrestling.

Jerry is survived by his sons: Eric (Nicky) Baker and Jeff (Chris Ferguson) Baker; grandsons: Evan Baker and Fiancé, Elysse and Cody Baker; Brother, Mark (Lisa) Baker and sister, Gloria Bewley. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Ella Mae.