Lanny James Baker Sr.

Lanny grew up in Western Pennsylvania. His younger years were spent in Grove City, PA. Later in his teen years, he moved to New Castle, PA, where he attended Lawrence County Career & Technical Center. He spent a few years in Prescott Valley, AZ, and then Germantown, MD, before moving to Parrish, FL, in 2013, where he lived until his passing.

Locally Lanny was a member of Bayside Community Church; he was a small group leader, and you could often find him serving on the production team.

Lanny grew up in humble beginnings running wild in rural PA. With nothing to his name, he worked hard perfecting the “hustle,” trying to make something of himself. Despite many obstacles and often getting in his own way, he taught himself new skills. He never let the bad things that happened to him define him or to be an excuse to fail, and he pushed forward, always finding a way to survive. He became a jack of all trades, and if there was something he didn’t know how to do, he would read and research until he taught himself how to do it. Lanny could lead a team of volunteers with a giant inflatable balloon down a parade route and repair the balloon if needed too, he could manage just about anyone and anything retail, but his favorites were a toy store and a Halloween Store; he loved law enforcement and had an appreciation for firearms which served him well in his years of being a Bail Enforcement officer and working security, he loved finding the best deal or best value which served him well working at an auto auction, and finally, he loved all things tech. He tinkered and researched and could fix a TV, hook up a surround sound, fix a computer, and never could get enough tech, which is why he loved teaching others how to use the tech on their new vehicles and managing the IT needs of a family-owned car dealership.

He loved God more than anything and his local church. He would often find himself in deep theological discussions with co-workers, customers, family, friends, and sometimes even complete strangers. The thing that gave him the most pride was his family. He loved them so very much. He was a father to 6 children, grandfather to 2, and a faithful husband. He was their biggest cheerleader and loved to pass on advice and counsel so that they might learn from his experience and mistakes. He was man that could build anything, fix anything, and he truly was their superman.

He was not perfect. He had his flaws and struggles but worked really hard to build the life that he had. Stubborn, bullheaded, and frugal with his money, but yet he would also help anyone who needed it. He loved people who could make him laugh. Lanny loved his wife and children and was often like a big kid himself. He trusted the Lord’s plan for his life. He reserved his heart for his family and friends and held them close to it. He believed in searching for the truth in all things. He was a good man.

Lanny is survived by his wife beloved wife Jennie Baker; his six children Jasmine Turney, Alexis Turner, Alanah Masters, Lanny Baker Jr., Ty Baker, and Jaxon Baker; and his brother Andy Tenney.

He was preceded in death by his mother Linda Joyce Tenney and his sister Melissa Tenney.

A visitation for Lanny will be held Friday, September 3, 2021 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Robert Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Manasota Memorial Park, 1221 53rd Ave East, Bradenton, FL 34203. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, September 4, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Bayside Community Church East Bradenton Campus, 15800 St Road 64, Bradenton, FL 34212.

Contributions in Lanny's memory may be made to The Baker Family GoFundMe, https://gofund.me/972c35d9.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ManasotaMemorial.com for the Baker family.