Gertrude "Gert" J. Baker

The first successful liquid fueled rocket was launched, aerosol sprays were developed and Henry Ford introduced the 40-hour work week at his Ford Motor Company in 1926. That same year U.S. Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles was created, the first public demonstration of a television and the radio network, National Broadcasting Company (NBC) was launched and the first college SAT admissions tests were being administered. That same year on July 24th in Allen County, Indiana, Arthur and Elizabeth (Pumphrey) Trout welcomed their first born child, Gertrude J. Trout.

As a young girl, Gert's family moved to Whitley County and made the town of Coesse home. She not only helped out at home spending time with her siblings, but she also worked very hard in the onion fields that were close by. While attending Coesse High School, she played the drums in the school band. She would graduate with the Class of 1944.

On March 3, 1946 Gert married James Baker at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church in Columbia City. The young couple moved to his family's farm south of Columbia City at 900 South and State Road 9. Along with their boys, Stephan and Terry they all worked together on the family farm. Gert was a Clerk of Washington Township during Jim's time as the township's Trustee officer. She was a member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church.

She enjoyed her down time from the farm life by playing cards and hosting Christmas and New Year's Eve parties. With having dairy cattle, it was hard for the family to take extended vacations but they did manage a few trips to Arlington, Virginia to visit some of Jim's relatives in the city.

Her biggest love of her life was her family. She loved all of her grandchildren and would do anything to help them out. She cherished the time spent with her family and husband. Gert loved fishing, even though she rarely ate it. She and Jim would take occasional fishing trips to Wisconsin and Michigan and even a fishing trip to Canada.

Staying close to the farm, Gert was a member of St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church, located a mile south of the farm and it was not uncommon to see her enjoying a meal a few miles north of the farm at Crossroad Inn. Gert was an avid I.U. fan and found relaxation in reading Amish and Daniel Steel novels. She would keep track on the first page of the books every time she finished it.

Her world changed forever on the evening of December 15, 1999 when her husband of 53 years passed away unexpectedly while walking up the driveway to check the mail. Her family's lives changed again at 2:25 p.m. Saturday, May 12, 2018 when Gertrude "Gert" J. Baker, 91, of Columbia City, Indiana, passed away at Miller's at Oak Pointe.

She is survived by her sons, Stephan (Tina) Baker, of Aiken, South Carolina and Terry (Pam) Baker, of Columbia City; brother, Paul Trout, of Martinsville; sister, Janice Minick, of Fort Wayne; granddaughter, Erin (Rodney) Baker Edger; grandsons, Travis (Adelle) Baker, Shane (Leslie) Baker and Tyler (Haley) Baker; and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Robert Trout; and sisters, Doris Norton and Eileen Collins.

Visitation is 2-3:30 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with a Rosary at 3:45 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church, 9989 S. S.R. 9, Columbia City with Father Dale A. Bauman officiating. Burial will follow at St. Catherine's Cemetery where she will be laid to rest beside her husband. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be given in her memory to St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church or American Cancer Society. Visit www.demoneygrimes.com to send her family condolences online.