Harland N Baker

Harland N. Baker, 76, of Coal Valley, IL, went home to be with the Lord, Friday, March 13, 2009, at Heartland Health Care Center in Moline, IL, after a courageous 15-year battle that began with prostate cancer. Visitation will be Monday, March 16th, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., at Wendt Funeral Home in Moline. Services will be Tuesday, March 17th, at 10:30 a.m., at the funeral home. Burial will be in Moline's Riverside Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family. Harland N. Baker was born in Black Creek, WI, on September 23, 1932, to Robert O. and Margaret L. (Curtiss) Baker. On June 4, 1960, in Rock Island, IL, he married Bonnie L. Shuda, who survives. He proudly served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Harland retired in 1994, after 30 years at John Deere Plow Planter in Moline. He attended Fellowship Temple Revival Center in Silvis, IL. He was a member of the Korean War Veterans Association, Q.C. Chapter #168; the U.A.W. Local 434; and the Moline/East Moline Bowling Association. He enjoyed bowling in two leagues a week for many years, and bowled in the U.S.B.C. National Tournaments for 23 years. Harland also enjoyed attending the "Second Winders" luncheons at Edgewood Baptist Church. He liked traveling, fishing, and especially loved spending time with his family and his granddog, "Packer". In additional to his wife, survivors include: a son: Brad Baker of Coal Valley; a daughter: Brenda Baker of Rock Island; four sisters: Arlene (Darrell) Hunwardsen of Coal Valley, Donna (Jack) Myers of Moline, Audrey Osterhagen of Rock Island, and JoAnn (Pat) Riley of Colorado; four brothers: Bobby (Sherry) Baker of Texas, Dale (Paula) Baker of Missouri, Duane (Dolores) Baker of Wisconsin, and Kenny (Evelyn) Baker of Moline; an uncle: Donald (Dorothy) Curtiss and family, and an aunt: Jeanette (Norman) VanHulle and family, all of Wisconsin; numerous nieces, nephews, and special friends, including, Ernie and Joyce Smith of Tennessee, and Jerry and Duene DeWitt of Illinois. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother: Merle Baker; a sister: Lorraine Septer; and a nephew: T.J. Baker.