Alva Baker

Alva Baker
August 29, 1921 - December 17, 2008
Keota, Iowa
Visitation: 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. December 21, 2008 at Powell Funeral Home - Keota
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m. December 22, 2008 at Holy Trinity Parish - St. Mary Catholic Church
Interment: December 22, 2008 at Holy Trinity Cemeteries - Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery
KEOTA-Alva Baker, age 87, of Keota, died Wednesday, December 17, 2008, at Halcyon House in Washington, following a brief illness. Alva was born August 29, 1921, in Clear Creek Township, Keokuk County, Iowa, the only son of Peter and Ursula (Redlinger) Baker. He attended Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic school. His father died when he was nine years old. At the young age of 16 he began farming the family farm and continued for 50 years. Alva was an avid conservationist, always finding new ways to conserve the land. He built the first field terraces in Clear Creek Township with a tractor and loader and two bottom plow. The terraces are still being used today on this Century Farm cared for by the Baker family since 1876. Alva received the District Soil Conservation Award in 1958 and again in 1991. On November 27, 1946, Alva married Isabelle Hammes at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in rural Harper, Iowa. Alva was a life long member of Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church where he volunteered much work, served on the Parish Council three terms, serving as president two terms, worked on various committees and was caretaker of the Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery where through his efforts many improvements were made to the present cemetery grounds. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Alva was a loving husband, father and grandfather, the light of our lives and the love of our hearts. Those left to mourn his passing are his wife of 62 years, Isabelle, and their four children: Robert and wife Marcia of Leesburg, Virginia, Richard and wife Barbara of Keota, Thomas and wife Donna of Richland, and Brenda Vittetoe and husband Robert of Washington; son-in-law: Marlin Greiner of Keota; 18 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter: Bonnie Greiner and great grandson: Kolten Kingsbury. Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, December 22, 2008, at Holy Trinity Parish - St. Mary Catholic Church in Keota, with Rev. Charles Fladung officiating. Burial will be at Holy Trinity Cemeteries - Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Clear Creek Township. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 21, 2008, at the Powell Funeral Home in Keota, where there will be a wake service at 5:00 p.m. A memorial fund has been established for the Ss. Peter & Paul Cemetery Fund. Powell Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Keota is caring for Alva and his family.