Dorance Baack

Dorance Baack, 79, of Clear Lake, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa.

A funeral service was held on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012 at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake with Rev. Dean Hess officiating. Burial was at the Clear Lake Cemetery.  Memorials may be directed to the Dorance Baack Memorial Fund or to Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.

Dorance Dean Baack was born on March 24, 1933, in Klemme, Iowa to August and Elsie (Penkert) Baack.  He was baptized and confirmed in Klemme and graduated from Klemme High School in 1950.  Dorance married Janet Eekhoff on July 18, 1952, in Kanawha, Iowa.  He worked for Mason City Brick & Tile prior to his 41 year career at The Clear Lake Bakery from which he retired in 1998.

Dorance was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, family vacations, polka and country western music, and working for his brothers-in-law during the harvest.  Dorance’s greatest joy was his family and he always put them first.  He was a very hard worker his entire life and instilled that value in his children.

Dorance is survived by his wife of 60 years, Janet Baack, Clear Lake; his five children, Rita (Bill) Campbell, Dixon, Mo., Danny (Chris) Baack, Norwalk, Iowa, David (Becky) Baack, Clear Lake, Ronda (Danny) Leerar, Williams, Iowa, Renee (Matt) Ritter, Clear Lake; his four grandchildren, Ryan Baack, North Liberty, Iowa, Reid (Jessica) Baack, Minneapolis, Minn., Erin Baack, Norwalk, Iowa, Trevor Baack, Norwalk, Iowa; one great-grandson, Raif Baack, Clear Lake; his two step-grandchildren, Heather (Randy) Kleeschulte, Richwoods, Mo., Lee (Monique) Leerar, Fountain Hills, Ariz.; his four step-great-grandchildren, Tyler and Brett Kleeschulte, Richwoods, Mo., Nathan and Riley Leerar, Fountain Hills, Ariz.; his brother, Gordon Baack, Clear Lake; seven sisters-in-law, Edna Peterson, Kanawha, Mildred Engh, Kanawha, Ella Josten, Garner, Iowa, Esther (Ray) Helps, Garner, Ida Eekhoff, Kanawha, Marie (Chris) Bunk, Renwick, Iowa, Lois (Doug) Ward, Cedar Rapids, Iowa; several nieces and nephews and one special nephew, Harlan (Marge) Baack, Mason City, Iowa.

Dorance was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister; brother, Howard Baack; brothers-in-law, Don Eliason, Norman “Tex” Peterson, Don Engh, Calvin Josten; and sisters-in-law, Viola Eliason, Alida Baack.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.