Denise M. Baker

Denise M. Baker, 46, of St. Libory, died unexpectedly Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2012, at St. Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Libory's Catholic Church in St. Libory. The Revs. Mike McDermott and Sidney Bruggeman will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church, with a 7 p.m. vigil service, with the Rev. Ray Kosmicki officiating. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of the arrangements. Denise was born on July 4, 1966, at Grand Island, the daughter of Virgil R. and Rita M. (Franssen) Dierberger. She was united in marriage to Curt A. Baker on June 28, 1986, at St. Paul. She is survived by her husband, Curt A. Baker of St. Libory; a daughter and her fiance', Kayla Baker and Richard Oltman of St. Libory; her parents, Virgil and Rita Dierberger of St. Paul; sister and brother-in-law, Diane and Terry Klein of Grand Island; brother and sister-in-law, Darin and Chris Dierberger of Doniphan; in-laws, Larry and Glenda Baker of Grand Island; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Cary Baker of Grand Island, Colin and Theresa Baker of Lincoln and Cassie Baker of Austin, TX; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved dogs, Tootsie and Ciera. Denise attended Bunker Hill rural school near St. Paul and graduated from St. Paul High School in 1984. She then worked at Heritage Living Center in St. Paul. She and Curt began their married life living in Lincoln where she worked for Woodman's Insurance Company and US Bank. In February 1989, the couple moved to St. Libory. She then worked at S.E. Smith and Sons Lumber in St. Paul for a number of years. For the last 13 years, she worked in the office of Chief Fabrication in Grand Island. She was a member of St. Libory's Catholic Church; Howard County Historical Society, where she assisted in county genealogy; and was a first responder at Chief Fabrication. Denise enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, computers, genealogy, crocheting, bingo and reading. She also loved spending time with family and friends. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Frank and Emma Franssen and Orval and Otta Dierberger. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice.