Darrell Baker

*Disclaimer: Please note that the date of death has been altered to reflect upcoming services. Please note the actual date of passing in the obituary below.

Darrell Gene Baker, age 81, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away peacefully surrounded by love on March 15, 2023 at his winter home in Mesa, Arizona.

A celebration of life for Darrell will be held on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. at the Kiwanis Park in Marshalltown, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Darrell’s name will be directed to his family for a memorial bench to be placed at a later date. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Darrell was born September 22, 1941 to parents Ray and Fern (Long) Baker in Eldora, Iowa. He was the seventh of eight children born in his family. He attended schools all over Iowa and later graduated from Ballard-Huxley High School in 1960.

On October 29, 1965, Darrell was united in marriage to the love of his life Candace “Candy” Brown in Nevada, Iowa. Over the years of their marriage, they resided in three Marshall County towns and raised their two children. Darrell was a hardworking employee for Emerson/Fisher Controls in Marshalltown for 35+ years. In his free time, he was active with the U.A.W. Local 893, the 893 retirees, State Center Jaycees, and the Marshalltown P.M. Kiwanis Club. Laughter was the most important thing to Darrell. All who knew him will remember his bad jokes, his smile, and his love for pulling pranks. His blue eyes would sparkle when he pulled one over on somebody. He loved to mow his yard, he loved to spend time with his children and his grandchildren, and loved to watch westerns and war movies.

He is survived by his daughter Laura (Chip) Thomas of Marshalltown; eight grandchildren: Dana Baker (Matt Smith) of Marion, IA, Kayla (Adam) Lytle of Madrid, Seton (Makayla) Vest of Tama, Richie Thomas (Cassandra) of Marshalltown, and Mason, Nicholas, Jackson and Jakobi Baker, all of North Carolina; nine great-grandchildren: Madelyn, Meredith, Theo, Ila, Baker, Leilani, Aaliyah, Nova, Marley and one on the way; his sisters-in-law Linda Baker of California, Cristie Brown (Phillip Loersch) of Arizona, and Jenny Brown of Marshalltown and all-time favorite daughter-in-law Diane Hobart, as well as his Kiwanis family and many other family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Candy Baker; his son, Wade Baker; his parents Ray and Fern Baker; his father and mother-in-law, Wayne and Jerry Brown; all of his siblings; and his bonus granddaughter Karleigh Hobart.