Obituary of Joseph E. Baker

Joseph E. Baker, age 59, of Port Edwards, passed away Monday, January 23, 2017 at his home surrounded by his loving family. A Celebration of Joe’s Life will be held from 4:00-7:30 P.M. on Saturday, January 28, 2017 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids, with a memorial service at 7:30 P.M. Online condolences may be expressed at www.taylorfuneralhome.net. Joe was born December 24, 1957 in Juneau, Alaska to Carl and Mary (Jackson) Baker. He was an enrolled member of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. He married Jocelyn Kramer on December 22, 2000 in Anchorage, Alaska. Joe worked as a tattoo artist at Northern Lights Tattoo in Alaska and also did tattooing from his home in Port Edwards. He also worked as a security guard in Long Island, Alaska. Joe was an excellent artist and was skilled at drawing. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt in Alaska. He enjoyed motorcycles and working on hot rod cars. He was a very generous person who was always willing to lend a hand. Joe liked to cook and was known for his prime rib and salsa chicken. Christmas time and Thanksgiving were very special to him. He loved having family and friends together for parties and would prepare for those events days in advance. Joe is survived by his wife, Jocelyn; children: John Baker, Ashland, WI, Christie Koch, Green Bay, WI, Matt (Dawn) Franck, Wisconsin Rapids, Kitty Franck, Tony, WI, Misty (Robert) Bauer, Auburndale, WI, Joanie (Gary) Smith, Wisconsin Rapids, Roxanne Hooper, Wisconsin Rapids, Joseph (April) Baker, Port Edwards, Elizabeth (AJ) Baker, Stevens Point, and Kaylin O’Donnell, Rhode Island; 30 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; siblings: Cora, Ogema, WI, Jeanette, Washington, Jerry, North Carolina, Ed, Alaska, and Sally, Alaska; special friends Clair Visgar and Patti Czappa; and many nieces and nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, stepfather, Richard King, brother, Jay Baker, son, James Franck, four grandchildren: Joshua, Adam, Channing and Laken, his best friend Joe O’Conner, and his dogs Floozmeister (his baby girl) and Big Joe (his puppy).