Leslie "Les" Kirk
Baker
Leslie “Les” Kirk Baker, 70, of Franksville, WI, fell asleep in his Lord Jesus Christ on Monday, November 13th, in the year of our Lord 2023. He was born to the late George and Selina (Pierini) Baker on February 18th, 1953.
Les grew up in Glen Burnie, Maryland, the youngest of nine (half-)siblings. The Baker family moved to Brooksville, Florida, when Les was 18. There he met the love of his life and wife of 33 years, Jeann, who was his supervisor at the hospital they worked at together in New Port Richey, FL. The two married in 1990 in Waukesha, WI.
In 1994, the young Baker family moved to Milwaukee to be closer to Les’ father-in-law, Daniel Hornak, and other family. Les loved his family more than any other temporal thing, but his greatest passion was spiritual. In his young adult years, Les was not serious about religion, but he wanted his children to attend Catholic school. The neighborhood Lutheran church, however, offered free tuition to its members. Les thought he would take advantage of the free tuition by going through the motions of the perfunctory membership classes. But the Lord worked in mysterious ways and brought the family to an active faith through St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church and School.
Les became very involved at St. James, volunteering for various boards, committees, and positions of leadership. Eventually, the congregation issued Les a Divine Call to serve full-time as its Deacon. Les left his corporate job in health care to serve in this spiritual capacity until disability prevented him from working any longer. Still, Les’ later years of chronic pain set a shining example of Christian humility and perseverance in the face of earthly trials. In his last year, he was very thankful for the opportunity to move from Milwaukee to a beautiful estate in Franksville to be nearer his Church family.
The funeral will be held at St. John’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Oak Creek, Wisconsin, on Friday, November 17th, 2023, with visitation from 4:00-6:00pm and Service at 6:00pm. Friends and family are invited to stay for dinner after the Service. Burial will be Saturday, November 18, 2023, 10am at Independent Cemetery, Oak Creek, WI. Flowers may be sent to the Church.
St. John’s Evangelical-Lutheran Church, Oak Creek, WI
10302 S 27th St,(Corner of 27th and Oakwood Rd.)
Oak Creek, WI 53154
Heartfelt sympathy to the family.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I loved and admired Les. We lost touch years ago
Sorry for your loss of a truly great man. We went the same steps as Les and Jeann and together we shared our classes at St. James. Les was never short of questions, and together we grew spiritually together!
Jeann and family, Cody and I send our heartfelt sympathy to you all. We hope Les did not suffer. He is with his Lord and what a joyous occasion that must be!! Thinking of you and prayers for you.
Praying for peace and comfort for you and your loved ones.
May the Lord Jesus Christ be with the Baker family at this time and forevermore.
So sorry to have read of Les’s death. He touched many lives and will be thought of often and never forgotten. May the joys you knew and the times you shared help comfort you at this sad time. This Bible verse recorded in Psalms 46:1 is something we need to remember when facing a tragedy. It reads “God is our refuge and strength, a help that is readily found in times of distress.” May the God of all comfort give strength and his love to each of you..