Memorial Service for Mary Rant Baker

(Photo by Clara J. Meyer)

Andrews alumna Mary Rant Baker (secretarial studies, 1952), passed away on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, in West Bend, WI. She was 95.

Born in Milwaukee, WI, to Slovenian immigrants, she loved art and music and for a time worked in a florist shop. After graduating from Emmanuel Missionary College (Andrews University's precursor), she married Philo Baker, Jr. and for many years used her secretarial degree to help him run Jackson Printing, one of the last firms in Milwaukee to do custom hand type-setting in a commercial environment. She also worked for 39 years as a Sunday receptionist for the West Bend Art Museum, now the Museum of Wisconsin Art.

A highly proficient watercolorist and oil painter, she enjoyed selling her works to local art connoisseurs, donating paintings to the annual PBS fund drive and giving beautiful Christmas, wedding and birthday presents to many family and friends. She also received recognition for her oil painting through the Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, WI.

Mary is survived by her husband Philo, brother Alexander (Paula) Rant, daughter Suzanne Kordas [BA '77], son Robert (Terri-Sue) Baker and grandchildren Marianne Kordas [BA '07], Alex (Lauren) Kordas, Camille Kordas [current], Benjamin Daniel Baker, David John Baker [BA '08] and many friends, relatives and church members.

A memorial potluck and service will be held on Sabbath, March 17, at the Milwaukee Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2229 N Terrace Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53202. The repast will be at 1 p.m., followed by the memorial service at 2 p.m. A private graveside service will be held on Sunday, March 18.