Lois Bakehouse

Lois Bakehouse
November 20, 1923 - December 28, 2005
Sigourney, Iowa
Visitation: 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. January 01, 2006 at Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel
Funeral Service: 10:00 a.m. January 02, 2006 at Sigourney United Methodist Church
Interment: January 02, 2005 at Sorden Cemetery
SIGOURNEY-Lois Sorden Bakehouse, age 82, of Sigourney, died Wednesday, December 28, 2005, at the Hospice House in Ottumwa. Lois was born November 20, 1923, near Webster, Iowa, the daughter of Glen and Ferne (Heaton) Sorden. She attended the Webster school her first three years and then transferred to Keswick where she graduated in 1941. After attending AIC in Davenport she was employed with the Lee County Extension Service in Donnellson and the Buchanan County Extension Service in Independence. In 1945 she accepted a position as Clerk of the Selective Service Board in Ottumwa. On June 27, 1948, Lois married Glen Bakehouse at the Presbyterian Church in Hedrick. They were farmers in the area until their retirement. They moved to Sigourney in 1999 and transferred their membership to the Sigourney United Methodist Church on March 9, 2005. Lois was a 4-H and Girl Scout leader and was active in the Hedrick Methodist Church where she served as President of the UMW. She was involved in the writing of the Hedrick area history book and volunteered at the Hedrick meal site. She served as Regent of Elizabeth Ross Chapter of D.A.R. and was southeast Iowa president of Colonial Dames of the 17th Century and past State Vice President and Secretary of Colonial Dames. Lois served on the board of the Keokuk County Historical Society and was secretary-treasurer of the Sorden Cemetery Association for many years. She was a member of the Hedrick American Legion Auxiliary, AARP, Arts Council, Sigourney Lions Club and a board member of the International Pontius Family Association. The Bakehouses spent 20 winters in Apache Junction, Arizona where Lois served as the first woman president of Meridian Park. She also published the park directory for many years. Lois learned in January, 2004 that she had Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS). She later developed leukemia. Survivors include her husband Glen of Sigourney; son: Neil (Lynn) Bakehouse of Ankeny; daugher: Betty Hall of Mitchellville; four grandchildren: Karl Lowe, Amie, Nathan and Annie Bakehouse; three great grandchildren: Sophie May Lowe, Allie and Megan Payne; one sister: Joanne Eschbach of Winter Haven, Florida and a daughter-in-law: Mary Pat Bakehouse of Sumner. She was preceded in death by her parents; her youngest son: James Richard Bakehouse; two brothers: Myron and Melvin Sorden; one sister: Evelyn Elder and a son-in-law: Warren D. Hall. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 2, 2006, at the Sigourney United Methodist Church with Revs. John Hembry and Frances Baumert officiating. Burial will be at Sorden Cemetery near Webster. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 1, 2006, at the Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel in Sigourney. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Sorden Cemetery Avenue of Flags, Hedrick American Legion Auxiliary, Sigourney United Methodist Church, Hospice or the Keokuk County Historical Society. Reynolds-Powell Funeral Chapel and Cremation Service in Sigourney is handling the arrangements.