John M. Baker

John Michael (Bake) Baker, 69, passed away Monday, January 13, 2025 at his home in St. Peter, Illinois.
A memorial visitation will take place on Monday, January 20, 2025, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Bauer Funeral Home in Effingham, followed by a brief service. A celebration of John's life and his burial at St. Michael Cemetery in Sigel will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of the charitable organizations John supported.
John was born on March 24, 1955 in Effingham, Illinois to Floyd and Mary (Hoelscher) Baker. John attended St. Michael's School in Sigel and was a 1973 graduate of Neoga High School.
He worked in several factories during his lifetime, among them working for over 20 years for R.R. Donnelley & Sons in Mattoon, IL and also working for Mid America Corvette/Motorworks in Effingham. Since 1994, he owned and operated his own upholstery business, B & L Auto Interiors in Farina, Illinois. He was a master at refurbishing and reupholstering convertible tops, auto and boat interiors, and automobile and restaurant seats.
John was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in St. Peter, IL. He was always one to get involved. He enlisted in the United States Army and was stationed with the 548th Engineer Battalion of the United States Army Forces Command in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was passionate about his military service time, continuing to support veterans, the POW-MIA causes, and attended many veterans gatherings like the Vietnam Veterans Reunion in Kokomo, Indiana to help honor the memory of so many of his family members, friends and neighbors that gave the ultimate sacrifice. He was a member of the Edgewood American Legion Post 1168, but also helped with the Farina American Legion Post 411 with fundraisers for the 4th of July and was often seen helping out at their benefit breakfasts and dinners, participating in color guard for parades, and was also a trustee for the Village of Farina from 2016-2019. He was an avid biker and was a past member of Last Edition Motorcycle Club, Liberty ABATE, and Crossroads ABATE, fighting for the rights of motorcyclists, off-roaders, and ATV riders in Illinois. He loved contributing to motorcylcist and veterans causes, food pantries, and many other minor fundraising efforts throughout the year, especially if there were baked goods involved. He also enjoyed playing Santa for many events such as the Wonderland in Lights. He could be found leisurely taking in musical performances both big and small, photography, enjoying the quiet of hunting for Indian beads in the gravel piles throughout the area, and never passed up an opportunity to "go out to eat" at many of his favorite restaurants. "Bake" was a free spirit, carefree and cracking jokes and loved traveling the open road- riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles and taking trips out west.
But, his unriveled joy and his biggest love in life, although the smallest in size, is his granddaughter Collins Baker. Lovingly named "Grandpa Cookie" by Collins, John would make weekly trips to visit her 110 miles away, bringing her a "cookie" or treat when he would see her. He would wait until school got out, sitting in the sun, waving to passing cars until it was time to walk to school to pick up his little friend. Collins and Grandpa Cookie loved watching tv together in the early mornings, taking walks, going to the playground, eating ice cream, drawing and being outside together. He enjoyed watching her participate in swimming lessons, tumbling, plays and musicals. He said he always knew she was happy if she was singing. No matter how mismatched he found himself in this role, he cherished his time with his partner in crime and could not have been more proud of his role as a grandfather. He will be sorely missed in that role.
John is survived by his son, Chad (wife Ciara) Baker of Oakwood, Illinois and daughter Kimberly (husband Tim) Snyder of St. Louis, MO; his granddaughter Collins of Oakwood, Illinois; stepson Shane (wife Danielle) McDowell of Salem and stepdaughter Caitlin McDowell (children Maverick and Rainey) of St. Elmo; siblings Dennis Baker, Susan (husband Robert) McMullen, Ruth Kersey, Jane Scheer, Timothy (wife Diane) Baker, and Nancy Baker; numerous uncles, aunts (including his favorite Aunt Bonnie Baker), cousins, nieces and nephews; and endless friends and family that were not of blood relation.
He is being welcomed with open arms in the beyond by his parents; several aunts and uncles; his brother Patrick Baker; his sister Judith Milanec; sister-in-law Connie Baker; brother-in-law Jay Kersey; and his niece Jessica Epperson.