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In Memoriam

The ITD community mourns the passing of Tom S. Baker who passed away Feb. 3 in Island Park. Baker was a long-time engineer who served in the Rigby and Island Park areas. He retired after 35 years of service with the department and will be missed by his many former colleagues.

Just a few thoughts about Tom and his contributions to particularly District 1 and Headquarters Materials:

Tom Baker worked in District 1 for close to 10 years. He transferred from District 6 to be Assistant District Engineer here in Coeur d’Alene. Shortly after I started with the Department in July of 1987, Tom became District Engineer with the retirement of Boyd Rood. During the years when Tom was DE, there were several of us in the Engineer-in- Training program – at one point there were five EITs in the district. Tom was always very proud of us and took an interest in our progress in the EIT program and the department. Tom was DE when the current District 1 complex was in development and when the district offices moved to the site near Hayden.

Early in 1996, Tom moved to Boise to be the Materials Engineer at Headquarters. He was the driving force for the Western Alliance for Quality Transportation Construction (WAQTC) and worked with other state DOTs to develop a uniform program among the member DOTs. The Transportation Technician Qualification Program was an outgrowth of his efforts.

– Andrea Storjohann,
Assistant District 1 Engineer

The following obituary appeared in the Island Park News.
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ISLAND PARK — Thomas Stanley Baker, 66, of Island Park, passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at his home of heart failure.

He was born September 29, 1942, in Clayton, New Mexico, to Myron Brookhart Baker and Ethel Marie Selonka Baker. He grew up and attended Clayton public schools, where he graduated from high school. He obtained a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from St. Louis University in St. Louis, Missouri.

After leaving Clayton, he lived in Alaska, and then in Rigby, Rathdrum, Middleton, and Island Park.
He was married to Jessie Fielden for 18 years and they had three children. He married Renee Moedl on October 10, 1981, in Rigby, and had an additional son and two stepdaughters. He worked as a professional engineer for the Idaho Transportation Department for 35 years.

He was a member of the Roman Catholic Church. He was a member of the Lion's Club, Eagles Lodge, Civil Defense for the State of Idaho, and the Island Park Fugowee Snowmobile Club. He served on planning and zoning commissions in Rigby and Island Park. His insight was invaluable to the Island Park Planning and Zoning Commission’s work updating the city’s comprehensive plan and development code. He also served on the Island Park Advocates for Responsible Development board.

He cared deeply about the Island Park community and helped the city write a grant to receive money for a safety project on Hwy. 20. Then, at a party celebrating the project’s success, he stood outside in a spring snowstorm to cook hamburgers for the many guests. Tom was a master craftsman and enjoyed woodworking, antiques, reading, snowmobiling, fishing with his grandkids, and most of all, spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Renee Baker, of Island Park, daughters Heidi (Ron) Cervi of San Diego, CA. and Cindy Baker of Idaho Falls, sons David (Angie) Baker of Kuna and Dustin Baker of Island Park, stepdaughters Cynthia Suter of Idaho Falls, and Stephanie (Kelly) Christensen of Chesterfield, sister Kathie (Tom) Wells of Spokane, WA., 15 grandchildren, and four great grandchildren
His parents preceded him in death.

Funeral services were held Friday (Feb. 6), at Wood Funeral Home, 273 N. Ridge in Idaho Falls. Burial was planned for a later date in the Island Park Cemetery under the direction of Wood Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.woodfuneralhome.com .