Edwin LeRoy Baucke

Edwin Leroy Baucke was born on January 29, 1926 to Henry and Minnie Harms Baucke at Tecumseh, Nebraska, being the oldest of four children. He passed away at Washington County Nursing Home in Akron, Colorado on March 26, 2017 at the age of 91.  

The Baucke family moved to a farm north of Yuma, Colorado when Ed was three years old. Two years later the family purchased a farm northeast of Yuma. He attended the Lutheran church school in Yuma through the eighth grade and then continued working alongside his parents on their farm. This was the beginning of what he would choose as his way of life.

On October 26, 1947, he was united in marriage to Adaline Fern Rinne also of Yuma. The couple made their home on the Baucke family farm. To this union three children were born—Deborah, Dennis, and Diane. In 1956, the family moved to the Rinne farmstead 6 miles north of Yuma. Throughout the following years Ed continued to farm. There were always chickens on the place which meant eggs to gather and chicken houses to clean. He had many winter jobs to help supplement the family’s income. This included hauling propane for Equity Coop, helping a neighbor shell ear corn, working for a land-leveling company, and doing custom harvesting in the panhandle of Nebraska. In 1992, Ed and Adaline moved into Yuma. Throughout the following years, Ed continued to go to the farm on a regular basis and help out wherever he was needed. In his early eighties he was still driving tractor and hauling grain in the semi. When his health no longer permitted working on the farm, he turned his attention to his yard to make sure it was one of the greenest in town. In February 2016, Ed moved to Parrish Care Center where he lived until January 2017. He then moved to the Washington County Nursing Home in Akron where he resided until his death.

Religion was always an important part of Ed’s life. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church. Ed was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Otis, Colorado. He served for many years on the Church council, sang in the choir, and was very proud to serve as an usher. Ed could always be found in Church on Sunday mornings dressed in his suit and tie and his car would be spotless.

In his younger years Ed enjoyed playing softball, volleyball, and bowling. He would never turn down the opportunity for a good game of pitch or pinochle with friends, and delighted in teaching his grandkids how to play these card games. Ed and Adaline were members of a square dance club for several years and even after spending a long day on the tractor he was able to do-si-do on the dance floor.

In July of 2002, Ed and Adaline were chosen as West Yuma County Farm Family of the Year. He was very proud of this honor and never regretted having spent his entire life in a farming community. He served for 30 years as a director on the board of the Equity Cooperative Oil Company and 11 years on the ASCS County Committee. He also spent several years on other boards including Farmers Home Administration, Yuma Federal Credit Union, and Yuma County Farm Bureau.

After Adaline’s death in 2003, Ed spent the next several years devoting his time to his kids and grandkids and caring for his home and yard. A special friendship began to develop with Dorothy Scott of Yuma and over the next 8 years her companionship was a real blessing in his life. Having someone to join you for meals or even cook you a meal, accompany you to family get-togethers and ballgames, or just spend an evening with you watching TV made the last years of his life so much more enjoyable.

Ed was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Adaline; parents Henry and Minnie Baucke; parents-in-law Ferd and Lena Rinne; brothers Harlan Baucke and wife Roylynn, Elmer Baucke; brother-in-laws Vern Boughman, Wilfred Rinne and wife Georgina, Gaylord Rinne; sister-in-laws Doretta Rinne, Deloris Zech and husband Keith; daughter-in-law Kimberly Baucke; and special friend Dorothy Scott.

He is survived by daughter Deb Godsey and husband Don of Wray, son Dennis Baucke of Yuma, daughter Diane Schenk and husband Roger of Akron; 8 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren; sister Darlene Boughman of Yuma, sister-in-law Lillian Baucke of Yuma, sister-in-law Della Rinne of Dunbar, NE; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He will be remembered as a positive role model and a true blessing in each of our lives.

The Funeral Service was held on Friday, March 31, 2017 at 2:00 p.m.  at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Otis, Colorado with Reverend Pastor Scott Bieker officiating.  Interment followed in the Yuma Cemetery in Yuma, Colorado.  Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.