Cleo V. "Pud" Baker (83) of Newton

Cleo V. "Pud" Baker, 83, of Newton died at 8:15pm Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at his home.

Funeral services will be held at 11am Saturday, February 6 at the Free Methodist Church in Newton with Rev. Steven Bruns and Rick Emrich officiating. Burial will be in the Aten Cemetery in Hidalgo with full military rites by the Jasper Post #20 American Legion. Visitation will be held one hour before the service. Memorials may be made to the family. Meyer Funeral Home in Newton is handling arrangements.

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Cleo better known as “Pud” was born on May 14, 1932, in Wheeler, Illinois, the son of Luther and Leah (Shamhart) Baker. He married Connie L. Finn on July 10, 1956, in Newton, Illinois and she preceded him in death on March 25, 2012. Pud worked for the City of Newton and retired as the custodian of the Jasper County Courthouse. Pud had raised horses and competed them in harness racing. Pud enlisted in the United States Army on December 4, 1952 and his was honorable discharged on November 12, 1954. Pud was a very active member of the Free Methodist Church in Newton, Illinois and was always busy doing for others. He enjoyed horse racing and was an avid Chicago Cubs fan.

Pud is survived by: Daughter – Cindy Lou (Richard) Cumber of Pingree, North Dakota...Son – Bruce Lane Baker of Millestone, New Jersey...Grandchildren – Joseph Lane Baker, Lacey Dawn Baker, Brittany Nichole Baker, Dylan Allen Fagan and Sawyer Baker...Brothers – Lloyd (Ann) Baker of Tennessee and Chuck (Judy) Baker of West Salem, Illinois...Sisters – Norma Harris of Newton, Illinois, Dora Mae Martin of Wheeler, Illinois and Esther Johnson of Oregon.

Pud was preceded in death by his parents, wife, sister Inez Finn and a brother Roy Baker.