Janet Baack

Janet Baack, 81, of Clear Lake, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016, at Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake, with the Rev. Steve Bang and the Rev. Kirk Wilkie officiating.  Burial will be at Clear Lake Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Janet Baack Memorial Fund or to Zion Lutheran Church, in Clear Lake.

Janet Mae (Eekhoff) Baack was born on May 18, 1934, on a farm near Britt, Iowa to Edward and Marie (Eenhuis) Eekhoff.  She was baptized and made public profession of her faith at the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church in Kanawha, Iowa.  She worked hard on the family farm near Kanawha and treasured the memories of her childhood.  During high school, she enjoyed playing basketball and pitching for the softball team.  She graduated from Kanawha High School in 1952 as salutatorian of her class.  Janet married Dorance Baack on July 18, 1952, in Kanawha.  She was a stay-at-home mom to her five children until 1976 when her youngest child started school.  She worked at X-Size Ladies Fashions in Clear Lake from 1976 until the store closed in 1986.  She also cleaned houses in Clear Lake for over 30 years.

Janet was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake and she treasured the church’s commitment to God’s Word.  She was an extraordinary cook and her meals were savored by family and friends alike; and she enjoyed baking cakes for funerals and other events held at church.   She enjoyed crafts and decorating, making every holiday extra-special for her family.  Janet’s greatest joy was her family and she willingly sacrificed for them.  She loved following her children and grandchildren in their various school activities and enjoyed serving as a room mother as well as a Boy Scout and Girl Scout leader.  In addition, she served as the sole caregiver for her deaf brother-in-law since her mother-in-law’s passing in 1986.  Janet’s hobbies included embroidery and ceramics; she sewed many tablecloths and sets of tea towels for family and friends and made each one of her children a unique and beautiful nativity set in ceramics.  In addition, her green thumb produced beautiful plants and flowers, and her Christmas cactus was a centerpiece of beauty in her home.  Her faith and salvation in Jesus Christ was the center of her life and greatly sustained her during her ongoing health struggles.

Janet is survived by five children, Rita (Bill) Campbell, of Dixon, Mo., Danny (Chris) Baack, of Norwalk, Iowa, David (Becky) Baack, of Clear Lake; Ronda (Danny) Leerar, of Williams, Iowa and Renee (Matt) Ritter, of Clear Lake; four grandchildren, Ryan Baack, of Clear Lake, Reid (Jessica) Baack, of Lakeville, Minn., Erin Baack, of Ankeny, Iowa and Trevor Baack, of Norwalk; three great-grandchildren, Raif Baack, of Clear Lake and Madeline and Bennett Baack, of Lakeville; two step-grandchildren, Heather (Randy) Kleeschulte, of Richwoods, Mo.; and Lee (Monique) Leerar, of Murrieta, Calif.; four step-great-grandchildren, Tyler Kleeschulte, of Springfield, Mo., Brett Kleeschulte, of St. Louis, Mo., and Nathan and Riley Leerar, of Murrieta; six sisters, Edna Peterson, of Kanawha, Ella Josten, of Ventura, Esther (Ray) Helps, of Garner, Iowa, Ida Eekhoff, of Kanawha, Marie (Chris) Bunk, of Renwick and Lois (Doug) Ward, of Cedar Rapids; a brother-in-law, Gordon Baack, of Clear Lake; and several nieces and nephews.

Janet was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Dorance; parents, Edward and Marie Eekhoff; two sisters, Viola Eliason and Mildred Engh and two twin sisters in infancy, Sally and Kathy Eekhoff; her father-in-law and mother-in-law, August Baack and Elsie Baack; her sister-in-law, Alida Baack; and her brothers-in-law, Howard Baack, Don Eliason, Norman “Tex” Peterson, Don Engh, and Calvin Josten.

Janet and her family would like thank Dr. Tracy Mixdorf, of Mercy Family Clinic in Clear Lake, for her kindness, compassion, and exemplary care during the last several years.  Dr. Mixdorf’s tenacity and attention to Janet’s many and complex health issues provided comfort to both Janet and her family.

Appreciation and thanks are also extended to Dr. Yuvaraj Thangaraj, the nurses and aids of the Skilled Nursing Unit at Mercy Medical Center - North Iowa West Campus, and the employees of Oakwood Care Center & Courtyard Assisted Living.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.