Lt. Col. (R) Breman W. Baker

Rochester, Olmstead County, MN Lt. Col. (R) Breman Wayne Baker, born September 14, 1942, in Lake Charles, LA, passed away on October 22, 2016, at St. Mary/Mayo Hospital, Rochester, MN, after a lengthy illness. Col. Baker graduated from McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA, in 1966 with a 2nd Lieutenant Commission in the US Army. During his military career, he completed two tours in Vietnam; served as the Commandant of the 82nd Airborne Division and later as the 505th Battalion Executive Officer; as the Ground Liaison Officer with the US Air Force, teaching Air Force pilots Russian tactics; on the Weapons Committee with the Pentagon Battle Staff; and as Director of JROTC in Natchitoches, LA, to name a few. Col. Baker received numerous medals, awards and special honors throughout his career. After his military retirement, he worked as a Special Education teacher, working specifically with youth with emotional behavior disorders. Col. Baker spent a lifetime also serving in various church callings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, including Bishop and Branch President, Stake High Councilman, and Stake President. He and his wife were called as missionaries for two years (1995-96) in the Canada Halifax Mission. Col. Baker is survived by his wife, Patsy (Pat) Nugent Baker of Rochester, MN; his children: Breanna (Joseph) Bly of Rochester, MN; Patricia (Jay) Kandler of Fisher, IN; Brent Baker of Lake Charles, LA; Kristen (Jason) Suydam of Rochester, MN; and Sharon Arviso of Shiprock, NM; 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Breman and Florence Hooper Baker of Lake Charles, LA. Funeral arrangements are made through Ranfrantz Vines Funeral Home in Rochester, MN. Visitation will be Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at 9:00 A.M.at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 2300 Viola Heights Dr NE, Rochester, MN, 55906, followed by the funeral at 10:00 A.M. Officiating is Bishop Mark Brown. Interment with full military rites will be at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis, MN, on Wednesday, October 26, 2016, at 10:30 A.M. Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home 5421 Royal Place NW Rochester, MN 55901 www.ranfranzandvinefh.com