Mary Alice Baedke

 Mary Alice (Blum) Baedke, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, entered eternal life peacefully while surrounded by family on Saturday, October 12, 2024. Mary (along with husband Martin) were former residents of Cedar Falls, IA and moved to Savage, MN to reside with their daughter and son-in-law during the COVID pandemic. 

 Mary was born at the Spencer Iowa Hospital on November 22, 1938, to Minor Oscar Blum and Bertha M. (Ryon) Blum. She was the youngest of 4 children growing up on the family farm outside of Terril, IA. 

 After graduating from Terril High School, Mary completed a 2-year Business degree at (AIB) American Institute of Business in Des Moines, IA. After graduation, Mary returned home where she worked as a Bookkeeper in the Accounting Dept. for the Terril Co-op Elevator and then later as a Receptionist and Bookkeeper for the Spirit Lake Medical Center. 

 Mary Blum met Martin Baedke on a blind date arranged by their good friend Fred Baedke, and they were married shortly after on October 11, 1959. After their marriage, Martin joined the U.S. Army where he and Mary spent over 2 years living at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. While Martin completed his military service, Mary worked in the neighboring community of Rolla, Missouri as a Ward Secretary with the Rolla Community Hospital and later as a Bookkeeper for the Rolla Concrete Productions Company. 

 After Martin was honorably discharged from military service, Martin and Mary returned to Northwest Iowa where Mary then worked as a Secretary for the Emmet County Superintendent of Schools until they started a family of 3 children: Bruce, Steven and Barbara. Career changes brought Martin and Mary to the Cedar Falls, IA area where Mary finished her working career as a long-standing part-time receptionist at Vorland Chiropractic and while also working as a part-time receptionist at the Western Home where she was awarded employee of the month at least twice during her 15-year tenure.

 While raising her kids and caring for her family, Mary enjoyed volunteering at their schools, being an active member of the PTA, involved in Boy Scouts, and church activities and church volunteer roles. In her free time, Mary enjoyed doing crafts and quilting while growing flowers and plants.

 Mary had her own quiet way of keeping her family together even though we were spread out in various states. She made a point each year making sure we got together for Thanksgiving, Christmas holiday, or during the summer. Mary also made a deliberate effort to keep in contact with extended family in friends by phone, email, and mail. She was known to send newspaper clippings by mail to friends and family on items that she thought others would find interesting. Mary always took time to help keep in touch with and care for our elderly neighbors on the block and family friends in town to make sure they had everything they needed and even drove them to doctor appointments. Her gentle kindness and thoughtfulness will be missed by many.

 She was preceded in death by her parents, Minor and Bertha Blum; her husband, Martin Baedke; her brothers: Robert Blum and Richard Blum & his, wife, Ann Blum and her brother-in-law, Carl Storey. 

 Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Julia (Blum) Storey of Homewood, IL; her sons: Bruce Baedke and his wife, Kerisa of Des Moines, IA and Steve Baedke and his wife, Liz of Harrison, VA and grand-daughter, Paige Baedke of Chicago, IL; her daughter, Barbara (Baedke) Staebell and her husband, Jason of Savage, MN; her two sisters-in-law, Donna Blum of Milford, IA and Sandra Lehrer of Gainesville, FL; other relatives and friends.