Virginia Josephine Baker, age 91, of Beaver Dam, died Sunday, July 26, 2015 at Hillside Manor. Visitation for Virginia will be at St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, 511 South Spring Street in Beaver Dam, on Friday, July 31, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at church on Friday at 11:30 a.m. with Fr. Michael J. Erwin officiating. Burial will be at St. Peter Cemetery in Beaver Dam. Virginia was born on November 7, 1923 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to the late Max and Mary (Ziemski) Behrendt. After high school, she enlisted in the US Coast Guard where she served from 1942 to 1946. On August 22, 1951, Virginia was united in marriage with Milton Baker in North Platte, Nebraska. She lived in Nebraska for many years until moving to Beaver Dam in the early 1990’s to be closer to her brother, George. Virginia volunteered in the gift shop at Beaver Dam Community Hospital and was a member of St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Beaver Dam. She enjoyed playing cards and she loved her pets, especially her dogs. Survivors include her sister, Diana Brandstrom of Milwaukee; her sister-in-law, Deloris Behrendt of Beaver Dam; two nephews, Michael “Butch” (Kris) Behrendt of Randolph and Peter (Ann) Brandstrom of Milwaukee; three nieces, Linda (Steve) Skjerly of Beaver Dam, Janice (Dale) Goetzke of Watertown, and Nancy (Ron) Mullennix of North Platte, NE; other relatives and friends. Virginia was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; five brothers, Edwin, Norbert, Robert, George, and Joseph; and three sisters, Lorraine, Esther, and Shirley. If desired, memorials may be made in Virginia Baker’s name to Dodge County Humane Society. The Koepsell-Murray Funeral Home in Beaver Dam is caring for the family. To leave online condolences, or for directions and other information, please visit our website at www.KoepsellFH.com.
