News of Norway, issue 3, 1999
Baker, 57, who served as Luther's eighth president from 1996-99, was with his wife, Shirley, and their sons, Christopher and Craig, at the time of his death. Baker was forced to step down from the office of president on March 19 due to declining health.
He was diagnosed with lung cancer in June 1998. President and Mrs. Baker moved from Decorah to their home in Cambria, Calif., on March 20. His final public appearance at Luther was March 16 when the college held a celebration chapel service honoring the Bakers and their contributions to the college and community.
Funeral services were held April 6 in the Cadet Chapel of the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo., with interment in the Air Force Academy Cemetery.
A memorial service was held April 14 in the Center for Faith and Life at Luther College.
President Baker's achievements at Luther include launching a $100 million capital campaign, restructuring administrative and financial operations, evaluating the academic philosophy and curriculum, and reinforcing Luther's reputation as one of the nation's top four-year liberal arts colleges.
Before coming to Luther, Baker served as commissioner of higher education for the Montana University System from 1993-96.
He was dean and vice president for academic affairs at Carroll College, Helena, Mont., from 1988-93. He had a 30-year career as a teacher and education administrator.
Born Nov. 23, 1941, in Sacramento, Calif., he spent his childhood and teenage years in that city.
Following high school, he received an appointment to the U.S. Air Force Academy, from which he received a bachelor of science degree in international affairs in 1964. On Dec. 27, 1964, he was united in marriage with Shirley Watson in Colorado Springs. The couple was blessed with three children: Christine, born Jan. 24, 1966; Craig, born Feb. 26, 1969; and Christopher, born Aug. 8, 1973.
Baker served as a U.S. Air Force pilot and instructor pilot from 1964-70, which included a tour of duty in Vietnam.
He earned a master's degree in business administration from Arizona State University, Tempe, in 1971.
From 1972-74 and 1976-80, he was a member of the Air Force Academy faculty, serving on the staff of the department of economics, business, and geography as an instructor, assistant professor, deputy for research and deputy for economics. He obtained a doctorate in labor economics and public finance from the University of North Carolina in 1979.
Baker studied at the Foreign Service Institute in Washington, D.C., in 1980-81 and then served as the air attaché with the American Embassy in Rangoon, Burma, from 1981-83.
In 1983 the Bakers returned to Washington, D.C., where he was assistant dean for graduate programs and continuing education at the Defense Intelligence College. In 1984 Baker ended his 21-year military career, retiring from the Air Force with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He joined the economics and business faculty of Carroll College, Helena, Mont., and taught there until 1987, when he was named associate director and associate professor at the University of Kentucky's Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce in Lexington.
He returned to Helena and Carroll College in 1988 as vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college, a position which he held until 1993.
In the summer of 1996, the Bakers moved to Decorah, Iowa, where Jeff began his term as the eighth president of Luther College on July 1.
Jeff Baker's legacy in Montana and Iowa, and all of the stops along his life's journey, is a life and career of professional competence and profound personal warmth and character-a legacy of an open and accessible man whose smile radiated warmth and humor, a man who put his mind and heart to work for the young people seeking education, co-workers and friends.
He is remembered as a man who cherished his wife and children, and who faithfully executed his duties to his family, his profession, his country, and his God.
Jeff Baker is survived by his wife, Shirley (Watson) Baker of Cambria, Calif.; a daughter, Christine Baker of Kagoshima, Japan, and her husband, John Burk; two sons, Craig of Long Beach, Calif., and Christopher of Seattle, Wash.; and a brother, Dr. Steven Baker of Pacific Grove, Calif. He was preceded in death by his parents.