Dr. John Edward Baker

He was born in Evansville, Indiana on February 12, 1956 to the late Josie (Roedel) Baker and James S. Baker. To his parents’ surprise, two baby boys (identical twins) were born that day. Jeffery Bill Baker was born four minutes before John and they shared a tight brotherly bond throughout life. A day hasn’t gone by when they haven’t been in each other’s presence or talked on the phone at least 10 x a day.

John grew up on Telephone Road in Chandler on an 80 acre farm in the country. He and his brother caught the farming bug from their father, who was a novice farmer. At 14 years old, they started driving the tractor to put out crops. Instead of the hard work discouraging their enthusiasm, as their mother had hoped, it only grew from there. Likewise, his interest in farm animals developed when they decided to raise a sheep herd along with a mean pony, some chickens, barn cats and dogs.

His home community has always been Warrick County and he graduated from Castle High School in 1974. While there, Andrea (Andy) Henry became his lifelong sweetheart. After high school he attended Purdue University with the original intent to be an engineer. But after he realized he would likely need to wear dress clothes and be confined in an office, he quickly changed his career focus to veterinary medicine.

John and Andrea married on July 22, 1978 after she graduated from the University of Evansville with a nursing degree. In 1981, John obtained his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. While at Purdue for 7 years, he and Andrea developed many close friendships (you know who you are) and considered those years among the best in their young lives.

He accepted his first veterinarian job in Poseyville, IN with Doc Ramsey at Raintree Veterinary Services and focused on swine medicine. He worked there for three years but longed to be back in Warrick County. So in 1984, he began a solo practice initially using his brother’s enclosed front porch and then dreamed big to build a brand new facility in Boonville – Warrick Veterinary Clinic. Today the Baker family-owned and operated clinics consist of a new, state of the art clinic in Boonville in addition to two clinics in Newburgh.

John was happiest when he was in the clinic caring for animals and working beside his team whom he loved as family; driving to farm calls; or peacefully walking through swine barns to assess health and solve problems if need be. Catching a 20 minute nap also made him happy and he was known for pulling off roads to find a secluded area to sleep minutes in his vet truck.

John became a father in 1985 when his son, Jordan Taylor, was born and again in 1988 when his daughter, Natalie Claire, was born. They were raised on the same farm that he had been raised on and was so proud and honored when they both decided on veterinary careers and joined him. Grandchildren blessed his life when Jordan and Rachel (Leidolf) became parents to Adalyn, Jackson, Nolan and Everly; and when Natalie and Nate Schumacher became parents to Saylor and Sunnie, along with a step-grandson, Chaunci Schumacher. “Pops” adored and spoiled his grandchildren at every opportunity.

John was a multi-faceted man with a full and overflowing life. He found joy and peace in his strong belief in Jesus and Christian values; family and friends; experiences in caring for “all creatures great and small”; relationships with DVM colleagues and his work family; American history and the early founding fathers and presidents; nature and the beauty of gardening, flowers, trees, berry bushes and orchard fruits; music – gospel, Jazz, country (no “rap” please); the element of water (he was an Aquarius after all) and loved fishing, boating and his whirlpool soaking tub. He was a cerebral force and his intelligent, busy mind was always thinking ahead, requiring those who knew and loved him to accept his flight of ideas and switching topics on a dime to keep up.

John is survived by his wife, two children and their spouses, 7 grandchildren, his brother and wife (Jane) and their sons – Ben (Robyn), Joey (Jessica) and Adam, a cousin Sandra Brown (Don), nephews Jim and Jonathan Baker and other great nieces, nephews and second cousins. He is also survived by Anita (Henry) and Rusty Hagan and Clara Henry, loving family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his half-siblings, Jack Lauderdale and Jim Baker, his father-in-law, Dick Henry and his brother in law, Bruce Henry.

A Funeral Service will be 1:00 p.m., Friday, June 19, 2026 at Alexander Newburgh Chapel, 5333 State Road 261, officiated by Pastor Chris Hendren Poehlein. Family and friends may visit 2:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 18, 2026 and Friday from 11:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter; Hope Central in Boonville; or to the Baker Family Veterinary Medicine Scholarship Endowment at Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine

http://giving.purdue.edu/inmemoryofjohnbaker