ALVIN BAKER SR.
Saagaaju
"Coming from Behind"

A true Lac Courte Oreilles visionary, loving father and respected elder, Alvin Earl Baker Sr., age 78, crossed over into the "Spirit World", on Tuesday, August 9, 2011 at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth.

Alvin Baker Sr. who was affectionately and lovingly nicknames "Tiny" by all of his friends and relatives, was born in Hayward, WI, on July 22, 1933. His parents were Patrick Baker and Ellen Smith, both of Signor, LCO Reservation. Al was raised in the Signor area and spent most of his time with his grandparents, Charlie & Maggie Smith, in a log cabin on the Couderay River. Growing up in Signor, Al, was the hunting/fishing companion and good buddy of Charlie Quagon and together they landed a near record size sturgeon, while they fished at the Big Eddy Creek Dam in Couderay. On July 24, 1952, Al entered active military service in the US Air Force and was stationed at the Sandia Air Base, NM, where he served for the next eight years as an MP and painter. After receiving the National Defense Medal, Al was discharged from active military service, on July 23, 1960. During his military service he was married to Florence Isham and they had three sons. After leaving New Mexico and returning home Al found work with a number of different companies in the Hayward area, I-WIN Lumber an Hayward Forest Products. While in Hayward, Al Baker met a local sign painter and artist, Russ Ramsdell of Ramsdell Signs. After apprenticing with Russ for sometime, Al, then decided to pursue a career as a sign painter and businessman, going on his own. Although Al was an exceptional individual with many talents which included, playing baseball, coaching little league, musician, outdoorsman and community leader, he will best be remembered for his contributions made as a graphic artist, sign painter and Native entrepreneur/businessman, when he created Al Baker's Signs in 1969, an Indian owned and operated advertising/marketing agency. Al Baker Sign's was one of the first Native owned and operated businesses to develop in the Hayward Lac Courte Oreilles Lakes area. Al began his sign painting career, as an outdoor advertising and marketing agency on the main street of Hayward. He created signs and advertising for a large number of Hayward area residents, resorts and businesses. Al later moved his sign business from Hayward to the Lac Courte Oreilles Reservation where he remained until recently. His many contributions are still visible throughout the region as his influence in the LCO/Hayward Lakes was widespread and diverse. Among some of this many contributions was art work that shaped the very businesses he was hired to work for which included: Tony Wise and Wise Enterprises, Mt. Telemark/Historyland, Tremblay's Candies, Lakewoods Resort, Hayward Lakes Resort Association, Countryside Tavern, Drifter's Corral, Waterfront Resort, Big Muskie Resort, Blueberry Lake Oasis, Blueberry Lake Resort, Muskies Inc., Eagle Wings, Pastika's Bait and Tackle, Hayward Bait and Tackle, St. Croix Tribe, Lac Courte Oreilles Tribal Governing Board, LCO Conservation Dept, LCO IGA/Quick Stop, LCO Grindstone Creek Casino, LCO Casino Lodge an Convention Center, LCO Health Dept, LCO College, The Landing and many other's too numerous to mention. Many people will remember Al for his talent of living life to the fullest, his strength and his sense of humor. It is said, that he was the founding member of the "Rembrandt Van Budweiser Society of LCO". Al will be missed by all of those who knew him best and we wish him well on his journey home.

Al is survived by his wife Florence Baker; sons Alvin Baker Jr., William "Bill" Baker, Douglas Baker all of Skunawong (LCO); grandchildren Trevor Baker of Seabeck, WA, Nick Baker of Hertel, WI, Noah Listle of Watertown, WI, Matthew Baker of New Post, Melissa Baker of St. Paul, MN; great grandchildren Matthew & Kaylissa Baker of New Post; sister Mary Ellen Baker of LCO; brother David Baker of Germany

He was preceded in death by his parents Patrick & Ellen Baker; brothers Charlie Baker, Rick Baker, Patrick Baker.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 12, 2011 at St. Francis Solanus Indian Mission in Reserve. Father Gregory Hopeful will officiate with music provided by Sister Felissa Zander. Burial will be in St. Francis Cemetery with military honors provided by LCO Amvets Post 1998. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 11 at Pineview Funeral Service.

Honorary casket bearers will be Joe Baker, Trevor Baker, Don Carley, Leo Mitchell, Rick Rooney, Bob Sander, Bobby Sander and Jap Sharlow.

Casket Bearers will be John Baker, Matthew Baker, Melissa Baker, Bethany Penass, Neil Siedel and Shane Zamora.

Pineview Funeral Service in Hayward in assisting Al's family with the arrangements.