Margarita Mendoza Rodriguez Baker

Margarita (Mendoza Rodriguez) Baker, 83, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at Harmony Cedar Rapids. A Memorial Service will be held at 5 p.m. on April 4, 2025, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa, where the family will greet friends from 3 - 5 p.m. Certified Celebrant, Amy Hart, will officiate.

Margarita was born on February 13, 1942, in Matamoros, Mexico, the daughter of Emilio Mansanarez and Guadalupe Mendoza Rodriguez. She worked in the marketplaces in Mexico prior to her marriage. On February 14, 1959, Margarita was united in marriage to Eugene Charles “Pancho” Baker in Brownsville, Texas. Together, they owned and operated Pancho & Maggie’s Café for many years in Strawberry Point, Iowa, before his unfortunate passing on August 18, 2013.

Margarita's creative spirit flourished in various hobbies. She was an adept leather crafter, creating beautiful items through meticulous tooling, and skilled in embroidery. Whether she was casting a line during fishing trips or assembling handcrafted treasures, Margarita embraced life with zest. Beyond her artistic pursuits, Margarita's heart was especially drawn to the care of stray animals. She found immense fulfillment in sheltering and nurturing those in need, embodying compassion and kindness. Margarita, known for her warm heart and generous nature, relished every moment spent with her grandchildren, sharing the joy of cooking and crafting cherished memories together. Their favorite dish, her famous enchiladas, were not just a meal; they were a symbol of the love she poured into her family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

Margarita is survived and lovingly remembered by her two children, Mark Baker of Hopkinton, Iowa, and Judy (John) Pfohl of Dubuque, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Amanda (Scott) Lown, Jessica (Mark) Paisley, Matthew (Angelica) Pfohl, Alex Baker, Jacquelyn (Brian) Zeimet, Samuel Baker, Brooke Fangmann-Baker (fiancé, Mallory Loney), and Isabel Pfohl; 14 great grandchildren, Keegan, Aidan, Katelynn, Cooper, Alexia, Syrus, Layton, Leela, Amelia, Archer, Sofia, Lennox, Olivia, and Stella; one great great granddaughter, Naomi; sister, Genoveva Mendoza of Texas; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Eugene Charles “Pancho” Baker; her in-laws; and three siblings, Georgina, Genaro, and Emilio.

Memorials in Margarita’s memory may be directed to the family.