Norma “Jean” Baker (nee Hidlebaugh), 93, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Monday, August 21, 2023. Jean was born in Metcalf and was a Wilmington High School graduate, who went on to become an L.P.N. through the Joliet Township Nurses Training program.
Jean and James Baker married on August 20, 1950. Jean worked for Silver Cross Hospital in Joliet and the Bensenville Nursing Home in Peotone. She was a lifetime member of Faith Connection of Wilton Center, formerly known as Wilton Center Federated Church in Wilton Center, where she held several offices. Jean was a member of the Will County Farm Bureau and served as the Illinois State Representative for several years and also served as an election judge in her precinct for a number of years.
Jean had a large social circle, was part of the Mr. and Mrs. Euchre Club and Manhattan Alley Cats Bowling League. She also enjoyed crocheting, traveling, gardening, and collecting recipes, to name a few. A fond family memory included the many family fishing trips to Minnesota and, in her latter years, with her husband and her daughter Karen. Jean also truly embraced the farmer’s wife’s role, always having meals prepared or bringing food out to the fields, plus a dessert was always ready at the end of a long day. Jean was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, and she will be dearly missed. The family would like to extend a sincere thank you to Karen for the years of love, support, and caregiving she has shown Mom.
Jean is survived by her children, Kenneth (Robin) Baker, James (Mary) Baker III, Nancy (John) Long, and Karen Baker; grandchildren, Amy (Aaron) Mashburn, Benjamin (Katie) Baker, Sarah Hooper, Gina (Rob) Miller, Lisa (David) Kochanowicz, David Baker, Ashley (Mia) Harrier, Kara Ridner, Rebecca Harvell, Dan (Katie) Long, and Kristin (Jason) Barnett; great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Victoria, Joshua, Noah, Ada, Elijah, Zoe, Oliver, Killian, Rune, Azalea, Jade, Nolan, Hannah, Haley, Brooklyn, Johnny, Mykinley, Bradie, and Madison; special friend, Deanna Wollek; numerous nieces and nephews; plus her faithful canine companions, “Jay” and “Coco” and her singing canary, “Sunny.”
She was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester and Zelma Hidlebaugh; husband, James H. Baker (2012); daughter, Debra Harrier; grandson, Joshua Baker; siblings, Virgil Hidlebaugh, Reba Bennett, Treva Friddle, and Marcella Nicholson.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 27, from 2-6 p.m., at Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, Manhattan. Jean will lie-in-state on Monday, August 28, from 10-11 a.m., at Fatih Connection of Wilton Center (WCFC), with a funeral service beginning at 11 a.m., and Pastor Zach Dyrda officiating. Interment is at Wilton Cemetery immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Manhattan Fire Department, P.O. Box 65, Manhattan, IL 60442, or to Faith Connection of Wilton Center, 14101 West Joliet Road, Manhattan, IL 60442.
Arrangements entrusted Forsythe Gould Funeral Home, 507 S. State Street, Manhattan, 815-478-3321, www.forysthegouldfh.com.