Mary Ann Baker

Mankato Mortuary
507-388-2202

Mary Ann Baker, age 79 died of cancer at her home with her loving family and friends at her side.

Mass of Christian burial will be held at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at 1PM with Rev. Joseph officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery next to her husband, James Joseph Baker who died January 5, 1982. Visitation will be held on Tuesday 4:00PM till 8:00PM at Mankato Mortuary preceded by a rosary at 3:30PM. Visitation will also be held one hour prior to the funeral.

Mary Ann was born Dec 19, 1931 to Leon Louis and Anna (Pollack) Siemieniewski in Geneseo, ND. She graduated from Lidgerwood High School and attended nursing school at St. Gabriel's School of Nursing in Little Falls, MN. She left nursing school for marriage and family.
On June 11th, 1951 Mary Ann was united in marriage to James Joseph Baker at Saint Martin's church in Geneseo, ND. They began their family life together in Wahpeton, ND and in 1960 moved their family to the Mankato, MN area. After which, she loved to travel "out home" to ND to share in celebration with her family and friends. Eight girls and four boys were born of their marriage.

Those 12 children required her to wear many hats, 4-H leader, chaperone for a multitude of school functions, and a charter member of early childhood programs in Mankato. Her home was a safe hang out with plenty of food for anyone's friends.

Mary Ann was a passionate environmentalist before it was vogue to be one. She enjoyed gardening from which she canned hundreds of quarts of tomatoes and would make her own special brand of horse radish. At Christmas, fruit cakes, baked goods and colored sandwiches could be expected from her.

She lived her Catholic faith. She was
a long time member of SS Peter and Paul and was known to many as the lady who organized the serving of rolls and coffee after mass on Sunday. She was a willing participant in whatever event was being hosted at the church and could be counted on to recruit more helping hands if needed.

She was proud of her long association with National Catholic Society of Foresters where she served as the National Vice President and an insurance agent. She was also a member of the Minnesota state board of Fraternal Congress, President for the PCCW and participated at the Diocesan level. After raising her own children, Mary Ann worked until last year as one of the "lunch ladies" at Bridges and Kennedy schools.

Mary Ann enjoyed many friends and a gathering of 3 or more meant they would be playing a game of cards. Watching the Minnesota Twins was a passion and listening and dancing to "Olde time" music was a favorite. Camping at Polka Days in Gibbon was a required event for many years, dancing in her high heel shoes of course. It was said, that if Mary Ann was invited to a party, you could expect her attendance. She was extremely proud of her Polish heritage and was much appreciated as the family archivists with a gift of remembering lineage, names and dates for all.

Mary Ann is survived by her admiring children; Peter (Cindi) Baker of rural Mankato, Janet (Keith) Hedge of Eagle Lake, Mary Beth (Art) Shelton of Van Buren, Arkansas, Caryle (Ken) Cummings of rural Mankato, James D. Baker of Elysian, Donna (Tom) Haley of Madison Lake, Gayle (Paul) Lenz of DePere, WI, John (Beth) Baker of North Mankato, Brenda Baker of Mankato and Eric (Rande) Baker of rural Mankato. Grandma Baker was especially proud of her 19 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Mary Ann was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James; daughters; Rhonda Baker and Lynn Bisch; grandson, Matthew Bisch; son in-law, Mickael Bisch and brother Chester Siemieniewski.