Ida Lee Baker

Ida Lee Baker

On the evening of December 9, 2015, Ida passed away after a brief battle with thyroid cancer. Ida was being visited and comforted by family members at the Citrus Valley Hospice Facility at the time of her passing. Ida was 66 years old.

Ida was born on October 21, 1949, in Great Falls, Montana. She was the second child, and the second daughter, of Rev. August Leo Hauptman and Ferol Lee Brawner. Ida spent her childhood in Montana; Spokane, Washington; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ida graduated Roosevelt High School in 1967 after winning an award for the Better Crocker Future Homemaker of America.

On February 10, 1968, Ida married Michael David Baker at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ida attended University of Minnesota and enjoyed sewing and needlework as a part-time job. Her son, Mark David Baker, was born February 15, 1970. Ida became a stay at home mother to Mark after he was born.

Ida moved with her family to Racine, Wisconsin in the fall of 1972. Ida was a member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Racine, where she had a close group of friends. Her daughter, Jennifer Ruth (Baker) El, was born July 24, 1974.

The family moved back to Minneapolis in the spring of 1978. Ida continued as a stay at home mom to Mark and Jennifer, making sure they learned to read early and understand how to be independent - the children were helping with dishes by the time they were in kindergarten! Ida cultivated a room full of beautiful green plants in their home and continued in her love of sewing, needlework and entertaining. She sewed much of Mark's and Jennifer's early clothing. The Bakers were members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Osseo.

In September 1980, the family moved to Diamond Bar, California, to enjoy warmer weather and proximity to Ida's extended family. They joined Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, where Ida served faithfully on the Board of Education for the school.

Once Mark and Jennifer were both in elementary school, Ida went to work, as a loan secretary at National Bank of Southern California in 1982. With no previous experience in banking, Ida demonstrated her ability to quickly learn new skills and excel in the workplace. Ida also worked at El Camino Bank in Orange County and started at Pomona First Federal in 1996. She held several positions during her time in the banking industry, from loan officer to VP of IT to compliance director. In 1989, Ida earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from University of San Francisco.

Ida and Mike bought a house in Chino Hills, California, in 2000. Ida continued working in banking, starting at Pomona First Federal Bank in 2002. Ida also developed a passion for crochet over the years, creating beautiful handmade lace, afghan blankets and decorative edging. She began experimenting with using crocheted covers to decorate simple glass Christmas ornaments. Family and friends who were lucky enough to receive handmade ornaments from Ida continue to cherish them as keepsakes during the holiday season.

Ida's son Mark married Mary Libra (Manalad) Baker in November 2001. They co-owned the house in Chino Hills for 5 years with Mike and Ida.
Ida's daugher Jennifer married Solar El in July 2003. Solar's two daughters, Y'mani and Isez joined the family as Ida's step-granddaughters.

Ida and Mike moved again to another house in Chino Hills in 2005 and welcomed a granddaughter, Michaela Katherine El, by Jennifer and Solar. Ida was elated to have a baby in the family and welcomed any chance to spend with Michaela. During this time, Ida discovered she had early-stage breast cancer and she emerged victorious from her battle with cancer in 2007.

In 2008, Ida moved with Mike into a house they bought with Jennifer and Solar in Torrance, California. Ida continued working in banking, working at a number of small banks and focusing on her passion - crocheted ornaments. Ida enjoyed traveling with Mike and other friends and family members to Europe, the Caribbean and Hawaii, as well as around the US. Ida became a member of Ascension Lutheran Church in Torrance.

Ida took a job in 2013 with Union Bank and eagerly started planning her retirement. She worked through July of 2015 and retired, looking forward to traveling, spending time with family, relaxing and of course, crocheting. Jennifer was relocating to the Bay Area and Ida and Mike chose to relocate with them. The family was in the process of the relocation process when Ida was diagnosed with anaplastic thyroid cancer in late November. She fought the cancer with grace and consideration for her family and caretakers, who gathered around her in prayer and love.

Ida was preceeded in death by her sister, Katherine Ann O'Meara; her mother, Ferol Lee Brawner.

Ida is survived by her husband, Mike, her son, Mark and his wife, Libra; her daughter, Jennifer and her husband, Solar; step-granddaughters Y'mani and Isez; granddaughter, Michaela; father, August Hauptman; sister, Sarah Fanucchi; brother, George Hauptman, his wife Harumi; brother, Martin Hauptman, his wife Francine, nephew Jonathan, neice Heather; sister Jane Rodriguez, neice Lisa, neice Sara, neice Marissa; brother Fred Hauptman and his wife Sujin; brother Ted Hauptman, nephew Danny, neice Katie; sister Elizabeth Bunnell and her husband Greg, nephew Jeffrey, nephew Brian.