The Rev. Dr. Paul Andrew Baker, 80, died November 3, 2024 at Cascade Creek Memory Care after a struggle with Alzheimer’s. He was born January 26, 1944 at Camp LeJeune, NC. to career marine John & Helen Baker and baptized at the base chapel. The family settled in Tucson, AZ in 1950 where Paul entered First Grade. At age 15 he was confirmed at Calvary Lutheran Church in Tucson. His education continued through graduation from Rincon High School and B.A. degree from the University of Arizona. Paul taught 6th Grade for one year in Douglas, AZ, before entering Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. There he met and married an elementary teacher, Evelyn Cherland.
Paul was ordained at Dove of Peace Lutheran Church, Tucson. As a Lutheran pastor, he served at Messiah, Vancouver,WA,where first son, Mark, was born; Bethel, Rochester, MN, where Karl was born; Bethel, Phoenix, AZ; Christus Rex Campus Center, University of ND, Grand Forks; where Vietnamese foster son, Scott Tran joined the family; Oak Grove Lutheran High School president, Fargo, ND; Zion, International Falls, MN; Good Shepherd, Wells, MN. During his years as a campus pastor, he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree. Upon retirement he served as an interim pastor at several churches in the Southeast Minnesota Synod, including Zumbro Lutheran, Rochester.
Growing up in a military family, Paul recognized the need for chaplains. He served for 22 years as a chaplain in the US Army Reserve, using some of his parish vacation time to attend his annual training. His duty assignments included being an instructor at the chaplain school at Fort Monmouth, NJ; Arlington Cemetery, VA; and Chief of Chaplains office at the Pentagon. He attained the rank of Colonel before retiring.
He was known for his wide smile and lengthy sermons! Paul was a very social person, who loved to plan special get-to-gethers with friends. As a result of seeing the American Red Cross in action during the recovery at the Pentagon after the September 11 attacks, Paul became a Red Cross volunteer for many years. Paul enjoyed traveling, reading history books, sailing, listening to jazz bands, eating pierogies, bird watching, parades, popcorn, and was willing to bend your ear as long as you would let him. His travels took him to most of the 50 states, plus Canada, Mexico, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, England, Scotland, Germany, and the USSR. Especially memorable was a road trip to visit Civil War battlefields with his brother, Richard, and nephew, Rick.
Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 56 years, Evelyn; son, Mark and wife, Scarlet Almirante; son, Karl; foster son, Scott Tran and wife, Anh Nguyen; grandchildren, Brian and Melanie Tran; brother, Richard Baker and wife, Rita; nephew, Rick Baker; niece, Shelby Billings (Adam); brother-in-law, Ron Cherland; sisters-in-law, Judy Cherland Rieff (Steve), Janet Wiltgen, Marilyn Simpson as well as many nieces and nephews and cousins.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents, John & Helen Baker; father-in-law and mother-in-law, E. Julian and Ella Mae Cherland; brother, John Baker, Jr.; brother-in-law, Erv Wiltgen; sister-in-law Marcia Cherland.
A memorial service will be held at 11am on Saturday, November 30, 2024 at Zumbro Lutheran Church (624 3rd Avenue SW, Rochester) with visitation at the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Blakjer Cemetery near Fenton IA at at later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to:
Lutheran Campus Center, Winona, MN
Christus Rex Lutheran Campus Center, Grand Forks, ND
