Lawrence Baker Obituary

MINSTER - Lawrence R. "Larry" Baker, Sr., age 85, of Minster, passed away on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at 5:15 A.M. at the Elmwood Assisted Living of New Bremen. He was born April 19, 1940, in South Bend, Indiana to the late C. Oscar and Josephine F. (Weinert) Baker. He married Ann Koenig on November 17, 1962, and she preceded him in death. He married Judy (Woehrmyer) Heitkamp on September 21, 2019, and she survives.

Larry is also survived by two daughters and one son-in-law, Christine and Duane Statzer of Zelienople, PA: Anastasia (Stacie) Steineman of St. Marys; one son and daughter-in-law, L. Richard (Rick) and Dawn Baker of Greenville; eight grandchildren, Nicholas, Eric (Heather), and Phillip Statzer; Mary, Sarah, and Laura Steineman; Katherine (Nathan) Steed; and Kayla (Trenton) LaFleur and five great-grandchildren, Carson, Ava, Rosie, and June Statzer; and Arthur Steed. He is also survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Steven and Martha Baker of Troy; Thomas and Marsha Baker of Piqua; two sisters and brother-in-law, Leesa Baker of Piqua; Molly and Scott Cameron of Piqua; one brother-in-law, John Koenig of Granville; two sisters-in-law and one brother-in-law, Sara and Joseph Kreitzer of Botkins; and Jean Evans of Fairborn, along with numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is also survived by dear family friend, Mrs. Martin.

From his second marriage, Larry is survived by Kelly (Fred) Wuebker of Lima, Kerry Heitkamp of Pinehurst, NC, Suzanne (Jon) Wells of New Bremen, and Scott (Holly) Heitkamp of Worthington. He is also survived by step-grandchildren Kathryn and Joshua Wuebker, Simon Shore, Nicholas, Patrick, Benjamin and Maria Wells, Ellen, Eve, Claire and Joseph Heitkamp. In-laws: Barb Heitkamp of Celina, Shirley Heitkamp of Minster, Mary Jane and Duane Bachman of Piqua, Jane Heitkamp of Celina, Dianne and Ned Sielschott of Minster, Ken and Deb Woehrmyer of Lebanon, and Debbie Woehrmyer of Three Rivers, MI, Sue and Jim Christian of Versailles, and Bill & Donna Woehrmyer of New Bremen.

Larry was preceded in death by one son, L. Nicholas Baker; one son-in-law, John Steineman, two sisters-in-law, Rose Mary Grevenkamp and Betty Koenig; two brothers-in-law, Ralph Grevenkamp and Phil Evans.

Larry was a 1958 graduate of Chaminade High School in Dayton and a 1988 graduate of Edison State Community College. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard and received an honorable discharge in 1963. Larry was co-owner of Valley Antenna Systems in Piqua and served as their President and General Manager from 1974 to 1985, and later, an owner of, and retired from Cavalier Products, Inc. dba HI-Temp Glass, in Piqua. He was a member of and spent many volunteer hours with the Coast Guard Auxiliary as a boating and member training instructor, Flotilla Commander and Division Vice Commander; a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church in Minster; a member of the Piqua Rotary Club and Piqua Knights of Columbus, 4th Degree. Larry served the Piqua United Way as Campaign Chair in 1973 and as President in 1976.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary Catholic Church (528 Broadway Street, Piqua, Ohio) on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 10:30 A.M. with Rev. Fr. Isaiah Callan, celebrant. Burial will follow in Forest Hill Cemetery in Piqua. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 from 3:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home (225 W. Monroe Street, New Bremen, Ohio) and again on Wednesday morning at the church from 9:30 -10:30 A.M. Contributions in Larry's memory may be made to Grand Lake Hospice (1122 E. Spring Street, St. Marys, Ohio 45885) or to Lehman Catholic High School (2400 St. Marys Ave., Sidney, Ohio 45365). Condolences and memories may be expressed to the Baker family online at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.