Dr. Richard Edward Baker, 78, of Sycamore, Ill., passed away peacefully on Dec. 1, 2023, at Kinnic Health and Rehab in River Falls, Wis. Born on Nov. 3, 1945, in Blythe, Calif., he was the beloved son of Leo and Delite (Peterman) Baker and spent his childhood in Prescott, Wis., graduating from Prescott High School in 1963.
Richard met his lifelong love, Sherolyn Beeler, during his youth. They married on April 5, 1968, in Prescott and enjoyed 55 years together, raising sons Jason and Steven.
An ardent scholar, Richard earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin River Falls and his master’s and Ph.D. in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin Madison. He spent 37 years as a Distinguished Professor at Northern Illinois University, also authoring widely-used Accounting textbooks, before retiring in 2006.
Richard’s curiosity sparked a love for travel with his wife and family, visiting destinations such as Egypt, Italy, China, Alaska, and numerous U.S. national parks. He also cherished woodworking, carpentry, and frequent trips up north to make sure all his nieces and nephews got a crisp dollar bill for some ice cream.
He is survived by his children, Jason (Gina) Baker and Steven (Yunmi) Baker; grandchildren Matthew, Mitchell, Michael, Kyle, and Mina; and left a lasting impact on his family and community.
A Celebration of Life will be held from noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 1339 Orrin Road, Prescott, WI. Arrangements are by O’Connell Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services. Visit www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com or call 715-262-5404 for more information.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Prescott Area Food Pantry are appreciated, honoring Richard’s commitment to community service. For more information or to make a donation, please visit www.prescottfoodpantry.org.
Let us celebrate Richard’s life, remembering his dedication to education, generosity, and love for all who knew him.
