Obituary of Ronald Baker

BAKER: Ronald George. On Monday, April 13, 2015, Ron Baker of Kemnay, Manitoba passed away at the Brandon Regional Health Centre with his family by his side. On November 14, 1929, Ron was born on Hermans Island, Nova Scotia, one of ten children born to Lowell and Muriel (Westhaver). After leaving school and working in the fishing industry for a short time, he along with a brother and a friend, set out for the west coast working odd jobs along the way. While working one of these odd jobs, Ron was introduced to Winnie by her brother George. A little while later, they were married and raised six children. Over the years, Dad worked with Buckley and Weir Construction driving heavy equipment, building roads as well as doing a lot of the mechanical work that was required. This work took him throughout Manitoba, western Ontario and eastern Saskatchewan. When the company switched from road construction to Blue Star Enterprises, he was introduced to farming. He put in a lot of long hours, if he wasn't driving machinery he was fixing it. There wasn't much he couldn't fix and if he didn't have the parts or tools he needed, he would make them. He retired at the age of 70 with mixed emotions, but for the next couple of years returned to the field when needed to fix machinery. Following retirement, he took up restoring old tractors and gardening (planting enough to feed an army). He was a man of few words, but often said "I might not say much, but I think lots." He spent many hours reading and would watch the News channels from coast to coast. He was also a member of the Pioneer Power and Equipment Club for many years. Ron is survived by children, Bob (Angie Pocholek), Beth (Garry) Lowdon, Danny (Deb), Bruce, Joan Creighton (Jeff Murray), Laurie Baker (Richard Wojcik); grandchildren, Shanna Lawrence, Allan (Shyanna Brietzke), Morgan, Abbey and Sadie Baker, Chris (Tish) and Rob Palfenier (Lindsey Randall), Ashley (Cole) Hunter, Chad Creighton, Kellie and Jodie Baker, Matthew and Jordyn Higgs; great-grandchildren, Denai and Marlise Lawrence, Tianni, Luke, Kaylee and Ethan Randall, Hayden Palfenier, and Lucas Hunter; as well as by sisters, Isabelle Kirwan and Shirley Bradford; brothers Gordon and Douglas Baker; as well as numerous other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by wife, Winnie (Watt) of 56 years of marriage; parents Lowell and Muriel Baker, in-laws, Bill and Florence Watt, daughter-in-law Charlene Baker; sisters, Gwendolyn Crouse, Madelyn Browne and Kathleen Mossman; brothers, Lawson and Eugene, brothers and sisters in-laws. Ron's Graveside Funeral Service was held at Rosewood Memorial Gardens on Monday, April 20, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. officiated by Kim Lewarne, Funeral Celebrant. Donations in Ron's memory may be made to a charity of one's choice.