Cecil Baker was born on December 15, 1922. He passed away on March 4, 2014. Cecil was a graduate of Topeka High School (1941) and the University of Kansas (1950). He served in WWII as a Marine Sargent in Hawaii, Nagasaki, and the battle of Iwo Jima. Cecil worked for the Santa Fe Railroad after high school and was an advertising manager at Sears after the war. His true passion, however, was music. Cecil and his wife Anna Marie founded Midwestern Music in Topeka in 1958, which they ran until the early 2000s. As a child of The Depression, Cecil grew up playing a tin clarinet and became a distinguished musician against the odds playing in the Marine Band, KU Band, Santa Fe Band, Topeka Symphony and KU Alumni Band through his 80s. He made it his commitment in life that all children could have access to a decent instrument. He is responsible for providing musical instruments and opportunities to play for 50 years’ worth of children in Topeka. Cecil and Anna Marie had a custom bandwagon constructed that generations of parade attendees enjoyed. With the mottos “Music is fun!” and “Get on the bandwagon!” the Bakers made sure Topeka had a first-class music scene.
The legacy Cecil built in life was for the benefit of family. He was a storyteller and could get a packed dinner table laughing uncontrollably. He is often thought of for his outward Marine persona—stoic, methodical, hardworking—but that was not nearly all of him. He was unbelievably generous, fun, adventurous, and a risk taker in business and in life. He and Anna Marie trekked all over the globe together. They kept packed suitcases in their closets, ready for travel opportunities to pop up. He loved Native American art and jewelry, live music, new experiences, rescuing stray animals, slapstick humor, and taking care of others. But mostly he loved Anna Marie. The two were high school sweethearts and met playing clarinet in marching band. They spent over seven decades together playing music and being involved in the community. Topeka is a better place because of them.
Cecil found inspiration in the Henry Ford quote: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t—you’re right.” Cecil’s gift was teaching those around him to think they can.
Cecil is preceded in death by his wife Anna Marie, deceased October 17, 2012, and his son, Larry, deceased July 3, 1989. He is survived by daughter Lori Baker, sisters Freda Vacek and Waneeta Bilquist, Joe Meador, four grandchildren: Luke Baker, Clayton (Lia) and Dale Meador, Stephanie Willis (Tilton), and two great-grandchildren: Julian and Tobin Meador.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, March 29 in Topeka High School’s cafeteria. There will be an open reception from 9:00 am to 10:00 am followed by formal remarks and a military service on the lawn of THS’ Constitution Plaza. Donations may be made to the Topeka High School Band Backers towards a Baker Memorial Scholarship.
The legacy Cecil built in life was for the benefit of family. He was a storyteller and could get a packed dinner table laughing uncontrollably. He is often thought of for his outward Marine persona—stoic, methodical, hardworking—but that was not nearly all of him. He was unbelievably generous, fun, adventurous, and a risk taker in business and in life. He and Anna Marie trekked all over the globe together. They kept packed suitcases in their closets, ready for travel opportunities to pop up. He loved Native American art and jewelry, live music, new experiences, rescuing stray animals, slapstick humor, and taking care of others. But mostly he loved Anna Marie. The two were high school sweethearts and met playing clarinet in marching band. They spent over seven decades together playing music and being involved in the community. Topeka is a better place because of them.
Cecil found inspiration in the Henry Ford quote: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t—you’re right.” Cecil’s gift was teaching those around him to think they can.
Cecil is preceded in death by his wife Anna Marie, deceased October 17, 2012, and his son, Larry, deceased July 3, 1989. He is survived by daughter Lori Baker, sisters Freda Vacek and Waneeta Bilquist, Joe Meador, four grandchildren: Luke Baker, Clayton (Lia) and Dale Meador, Stephanie Willis (Tilton), and two great-grandchildren: Julian and Tobin Meador.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, March 29 in Topeka High School’s cafeteria. There will be an open reception from 9:00 am to 10:00 am followed by formal remarks and a military service on the lawn of THS’ Constitution Plaza. Donations may be made to the Topeka High School Band Backers towards a Baker Memorial Scholarship.
Cecil Baker was born on December 15, 1922. He passed away on March 4, 2014. Cecil was a graduate of Topeka High School (1941) and the University of Kansas (1950). He served in WWII as a Marine Sargent in Hawaii, Nagasaki, and the battle of Iwo Jima. Cecil worked for the Santa Fe Railroad after high school and was an advertising manager at Sears after the war. His true passion, however, was music. Cecil and his wife Anna Marie founded Midwestern Music in Topeka in 1958, which they ran until the early 2000s. As a child of The Depression, Cecil grew up playing a tin clarinet and became a distinguished musician against the odds playing in the Marine Band, KU Band, Santa Fe Band, Topeka Symphony and KU Alumni Band through his 80s. He made it his commitment in life that all children could have access to a decent instrument. He is responsible for providing musical instruments and opportunities to play for 50 years’ worth of children in Topeka. Cecil and Anna Marie had a custom bandwagon constructed that generations of parade attendees enjoyed. With the mottos “Music is fun!” and “Get on the bandwagon!” the Bakers made sure Topeka had a first-class music scene.
The legacy Cecil built in life was for the benefit of family. He was a storyteller and could get a packed dinner table laughing uncontrollably. He is often thought of for his outward Marine persona—stoic, methodical, hardworking—but that was not nearly all of him. He was unbelievably generous, fun, adventurous, and a risk taker in business and in life. He and Anna Marie trekked all over the globe together. They kept packed suitcases in their closets, ready for travel opportunities to pop up. He loved Native American art and jewelry, live music, new experiences, rescuing stray animals, slapstick humor, and taking care of others. But mostly he loved Anna Marie. The two were high school sweethearts and met playing clarinet in marching band. They spent over seven decades together playing music and being involved in the community. Topeka is a better place because of them.
Cecil found inspiration in the Henry Ford quote: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t—you’re right.” Cecil’s gift was teaching those around him to think they can.
Cecil is preceded in death by his wife Anna Marie, deceased October 17, 2012, and his son, Larry, deceased July 3, 1989. He is survived by daughter Lori Baker, sisters Freda Vacek and Waneeta Bilquist, Joe Meador, four grandchildren: Luke Baker, Clayton (Lia) and Dale Meador, Stephanie Willis (Tilton), and two great-grandchildren: Julian and Tobin Meador.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, March 29 in Topeka High School’s cafeteria. There will be an open reception from 9:00 am to 10:00 am followed by formal remarks and a military service on the lawn of THS’ Constitution Plaza. Donations may be made to the Topeka High School Band Backers towards a Baker Memorial Scholarship.
The legacy Cecil built in life was for the benefit of family. He was a storyteller and could get a packed dinner table laughing uncontrollably. He is often thought of for his outward Marine persona—stoic, methodical, hardworking—but that was not nearly all of him. He was unbelievably generous, fun, adventurous, and a risk taker in business and in life. He and Anna Marie trekked all over the globe together. They kept packed suitcases in their closets, ready for travel opportunities to pop up. He loved Native American art and jewelry, live music, new experiences, rescuing stray animals, slapstick humor, and taking care of others. But mostly he loved Anna Marie. The two were high school sweethearts and met playing clarinet in marching band. They spent over seven decades together playing music and being involved in the community. Topeka is a better place because of them.
Cecil found inspiration in the Henry Ford quote: “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t—you’re right.” Cecil’s gift was teaching those around him to think they can.
Cecil is preceded in death by his wife Anna Marie, deceased October 17, 2012, and his son, Larry, deceased July 3, 1989. He is survived by daughter Lori Baker, sisters Freda Vacek and Waneeta Bilquist, Joe Meador, four grandchildren: Luke Baker, Clayton (Lia) and Dale Meador, Stephanie Willis (Tilton), and two great-grandchildren: Julian and Tobin Meador.
A memorial will be held on Saturday, March 29 in Topeka High School’s cafeteria. There will be an open reception from 9:00 am to 10:00 am followed by formal remarks and a military service on the lawn of THS’ Constitution Plaza. Donations may be made to the Topeka High School Band Backers towards a Baker Memorial Scholarship.
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