Verlyn Baker, 89 of Wagner

Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 2, 2016 at the Pickstown Community Church in Pickstown, SD, with military honors. Inurnment will be held at the Pleasant Vally Cemetery in rural Adeville, IA. A memorial visitation will be Friday from 6 to 7 at the church, followed by a 7 p.m. prayer service. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home of Wagner is in charge of the arrangements.

Verlyn Dean Baker, 89 of Wagner, SD passed away at home in hospice care with family by his side on Monday, June 27, 2016.

Verlyn was born on August 29, 1926 to Lloyd W. Baker and Ivy L. (Brainerd) Baker on a farm near Moville, IA. Verlyn was born again by accepting Christ as his Savior on January 10, 1936. He was raised on farms near Moville, IA. He attended country schools and then high school at Bronson, IA. He entered the Army on June 29, 1945 attaining the rank of Corporal and being discharged on November 29, 1946. He was a WWII veteran.

Verlyn married Shirley A. Herman at the Adaville EUB Church on May 25, 1956. To this union were born five children: Paul Baker of Lexington, KY, Zandra (Andy) Anderson of Charleston, IL, Charmain (Rick) Hazuka of Mitchell, SD, Karry Baker of Mitchell, SD, and Teresa (Keith) Hofer of Yankton, SD. Survivors also include eleven grandchildren: Logan Baker, Isaac Thompson, Caleb Thompson, Jeremiah Thompson, Tonya Schuldt, Mark Hazuka, Phillip Hazuka, Jayme Bergin, Chasity O'Connor, Miranda Nygaard, Chelsey Ewalt and 13 great grandchildren.

Verlyn was a member of the Pickstown Community Church and served on the church board, the Gideons, the Pickstown Township Board, the Pickstown Volunteer Fire Department and the Ft. Randall Castle American Legion Post, where he served as Chaplain and Adjutant. He also served for 35 years as a weather reader, as an EMT on the Pickstown Ambulance Service, Treasurer of NAARFE, and was instrumental in founding the Pickstown Museum.? Verlyn worked on a farm and farmed for himself, and worked in meat packing houses in Sioux City, IA in the winters. He worked for Iowa Public Service in Moville, IA, IBM in Sioux City, IA, and then was employed by the US Army Corps of Engineers in SD for 31 years. They lived and worked at Pierre, SD for 15 years and moved to Pickstown in 1971. Verlyn retired in 1988. He pursued a hobby business of repairing appliances since retirement. Verlyn's accomplishments that he was most proud of were being the main electrical contractor for the new Wesleyan Church in Pierre, spending three months in Zambia to visit Zandra and family who were missionaries there, attending high school graduation of all 11 grandchildren and six weddings, tearing apart old broken items and making them work again. He was known in Pickstown as the handy man in the little red pickup. He enjoyed receiving hugs from his 13 great grandchildren. Verlyn also enjoyed telling people about the Lord and what He has done for him.

Preceding him in death are his parents, sister Josie Hobbs, brother Gaylon Baker, nephew Ron Baker.