Darwin Baedke

Darwin L Baedke

May 11, 1932 – October 8, 2023

"What will the world be like when she is my age?" Darwin asked when meeting his newest great granddaughter. Ninety-one years earlier, Darwin Laverne Baedke was born to Theodore and Ethel (Muench) Baedke, on May 11, 1932, in Boone County, Iowa, joining his parents and older sister Beverly. Darwin grew up on their family farm outside Ogden, Iowa, and shared memories of his father running a threshing machine for area farmers, and his mother playing the organ at their church.

Following school and graduating from Ogden High School, Darwin enlisted in the Army. Darwin, after being on a ship and seeing no land for many days, he eventually made his way to Germany, where he served before being honorably discharged.

At a roller skating rink in Ames, Darwin met a pretty young girl with braids in her hair who caught his eye. He and Mary Jane (Musser) Baedke, his "Janie Girl, were married on July 17, 1954.

Darwin and Mary Jane lived near Ogden before moving to Marshalltown, where Darwin began to build new homes. After a time Darwin began "Baedke Construction" and in addition to new homes, did remodeled homes, built storage buildings, moved snow, or other work which needed to be done.

In addition to hard work, Darwin was well known for camping and fishing at Rock Creek, hunting, rolling dice and playing cards. As kind of a jokester, Darwin claimed to have shot two turkey with one shot. Was that true, or one of his "fish tails"?

Following Mary Jane, who passed away October 7, 2010, Darwin left us on Sunday, October 8, 2023. Darwin had great care for nearly 8-1/2 years at the Iowa Veterans Home by compassionate and caring people who made him feel very comfortable to his final breath.

Surviving Darwin are his two sons, Ted Baedke, of Marshalltown, and Terry (Linda) Baedke, of Fort Dodge, and son-in-law, Tom (Candy) Hiett, of Monmouth, Illinois. Darwin's grandchildren are, Jacob Hiett, Amy (Brett) Womeldorff; Ryan (Francie) Baedke, Adam (Samantha) Baedke, Lucas (Charissa) Baedke, Shay (Baedke) Hunter; Joshua (Kylie) Barker, Joseph (LaReen) Baedke, Matthew (Shireen) Baedke. Darwin's great grandchildren, Ted's grandchildren, Isaac Dorman, Anthony Batillo, Alyssa Baedke, Oliver Palmer, Alexis Baedke, Jemma Baedke; and Terry's grandchildren, Tatum and Levi Bramstedt; Noah and Theo Barker; Jacob and Elizabeth Baedke; Jasper and Janessa Williams, and Mazikeen Baedke. Also surviving are his sister-in-law, Donna Musser and former daughter-in-law, Becky Baedke.

With his death, he has rejoined his parents, Ted & Ethel, his wife of 56-years, Mary Jane, his daughter, Peggy Jo Hiett, his sister, Beverly (LaVern) Zunkel, as well as Mary Jane's parents, Joe and Josephine (Hemping) Musser, and her siblings, Neta Williams, John (Elizabeth) Musser, and Edgar Musser.

Darwin’s family thanks you for directing memorials to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources to preserve Darwin's love of fishing, hunting and camping!

A tree has been planted in Marshalltown’s Riverview Park campground area with a plaque to follow

In Memory of Darwin & Mary Jane Baedke, and “Baedke Construction”.