Rodney L. Baker died at Season's Hospice Nov. 20, 2011. He was 59.
Baker was born May 15, 1952, to Harold and Margaret (Taul) Baker in McCook, Neb. He lived on the homestead outside Stratton, Neb., and was active in 4-H, once winning a purple ribbon for his angel food cake. Graduating from Stratton High School in 1970 he then attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he received a degree in architecture.
In 1974, immediately after graduation, he traveled on his own to Paris, Rome and Egypt; he then stayed with the parents of college friends in Iran and Lebanon. Upon returning home he worked for Stetson Building Supply in Des Moines, Iowa, working in estimating and sales until 1980, when he moved to Chicago to join his partner, James Krueger.
Baker worked as a waiter in several places, finally getting a job as a waiter and later a captain at the four-star Dining Room in the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. For 25 years he was proud to provide service to local and international patrons such as Oprah Winfrey, Milton Berle, Bob Newhart, Betty White, The Rolling Stones and former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daleyoh, for an ear at some of those tables. He was employee of the month on numerous occasions and picked up many cooking tips from Chef Sarah Stegner.
He loved to cook and was well-known for his own recipe for lasagna. Rod had a passion for gardening. He inherited his Grandmother Baker's green thumb and created a beautiful garden in Chicago. He also loved to travel; although illness in the last 20 years of his life kept him returning to more local venues such as Hawaii or Florida, before that he traveled to Guatemala, Peru, Mexico, Costa Rico, Cambodia, China, Thailand, Viet Nam, Laos, Hong Kong and Singapore.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Margaret, and an infant brother, James Dale Baker.
Survivors include Krueger, his partner of 33 years; his brothers Joe Baker (Sharlene) of Brighton, Colo., and Gene Baker (Barbara) of McCook, Neb. He leaves behind numerous loving nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.
A remembrance will be held in Chicago Saturday, May 12, in his garden on Bosworth Avenue at his Chicago apartment, 12-3 p.m.; a memorial service will take place Saturday, May 26, at 11 a.m. at the Baker Homestead outside Stratton, Neb. There, his ashes will be returned to the homestead he loved.
Email Krueger at KATSDADDIES@aol.com for more information.