Dr. George M. Baker was born on June 5, 1932 at the farm in Ericson, Nebraska to Gilbert and Adala Baker. He passed away at his home on August 26, 2020 at the age of 88.
George grew up on the family farm in Ericson and from a young age learned to do a man’s work. At the age of six he convinced his parents to let him milk the cow and by the time he was nine he was working a team of horses in a field several miles from the family homestead. He often rode his horse to high school, even in the winter and graduated from Ericson High School in 1949. He worked the family farm for a few years while also hiring out to neighbors and business men who needed a steady hand. He was drafted in April of 1953 and served for two years until April 28, 1955. He married Lillian Hope Fleck on August 10, 1957. They lost an infant daughter, Carol Hope Baker in 1959 and went on to have a son, George Steffan Baker in 1961.
George started college in Kearney, Nebraska in 1957 at the age of 25 and moved on to Kansas State University where he graduated in 1964 with a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. George, Lillian and Steffan moved to Ord, Nebraska that same year where George joined the staff of the Ord Animal Clinic. During his 36-year career he became part owner of the clinic and developed the A.I. program at the Pitzer Ranch in Ericson. He was a boy scout leader, Sunday School teacher, judge at horse shows and one Rodeo Queen contest and was a Valley County Supervisor. He was an avid guitar player, singer, author and poet. His true legacy is measured in the lives he touched, the horses he healed and the men and women who he encouraged to follow their dreams and become veterinarians.
George is survived by his son, Steffan and wife Julie Baker of Ord, Nebraska, four grandchildren, Erinn Baker and finance Derek Akers of Omaha, Nebraska, Evan Baker of Chadron, Nebraska, Colin and wife Leah Baker of Ramsey, Illinois and their children Tobias and Benedict and Amanda Baker of Ord, Nebraska, a brother, Stuart Baker of Lincoln, Nebraska and a sister Corinne and Russell Howe of Kearney, Nebraska.
George was preceded in death by his parents, wife, infant daughter and a sister, Shirley Jipp.
Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 2, 2020 at the Ord City Cemetery. Pastor Colin Baker will officiate. Visitation will be Tuesday, September 1, 2020 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Hitchcock Funeral Home in Burwell, Nebraska. No flowers please, memorials are suggested to the family for a later designation. A reception to follow the service will at Bussell Park in Ord, Nebraska.
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