Garry H. Baker

Garry Hayes Baker, 83, passed away July 14, 2023 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines following a very short, courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, 2023 at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1105 Grand Avenue, in West Des Moines, with visitation from 10 a.m. until service time at St. Mark. Burial will take place at Resthaven Cemetery in West Des Moines at a later date.

Garry was born March 7, 1940 to his mother, Aleita Baker, in Iowa City. He graduated from Norwalk High School in 1958. After the graduation ceremony, he and some of his buddies decided to head to California. Unfortunately, they only got to Colorado before money ran out and they had to return home. His career mainly consisted in the insurance finance business, working at Continental Western, IFC and NCMIC to name a few.

Garry was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan as well as an Iowa Hawkeye and Cyclone fan. He was an armchair coach of all sports and sometimes there were a few swear words yelled out to anyone that was listening. Garry enjoyed the game of golf and yes, swear words were shared with his buddies as well as a few thrown clubs. He lived for a good social gathering with a whiskey in hand and will be remembered as the life of the party. Garry also enjoyed his workout friends at Mercy Fitness Center. He was known for not knowing a stranger and great at making people feel comfortable and loved.

His all-time greatest efforts could be seen and felt as a member of the ZaGaZig Shrine. He drove golf carts at the Fair and sold their famous Vadalia onions and helped with the Shrine Christmas food baskets. Garry was a proud member of the ZaGaZig Shrine Bowl Club and served on the Board of the Iowa Shrine Bowl from 2009 until earlier this year.

He was married to Donna Marturello and three sons were born to this union, Garry Lee, Marty and Michael. Sadly, Garry Lee and Michael preceded him in death along with his mother, sister Roberta Knudson, great-grandson Lucas Baker, and step-son Perry Miller.

Garry married Sandra (Paulsen) Miller on Valentine’s Day in 1990. They enjoyed being with family and friends, playing cards, as well as vacationing in Arizona and Florida during the winter and met wonderful life-long friends while there.

Garry is survived by his wife Sandra, son Marty Baker, step-son Toby Miller and wife Trish, daughter-in-law Jen Miller, granddaughter Taylor Baker, grandson Jonathan Baker and fiancé Brooke Butler, grandson Ryder Miller, great-grandchildren Michael, Willow, John and Emery, brother-in-law Jim Paulsen and wife Joyce, sister-in-law Melissa Stark and husband Allen, four nieces and their families plus all the other family and dear friends. The mother of his children also survives.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial be sent to Shriners Children, 215 Radio Drive, Woodbury, MN 55125. Attn: Jennifer Such.