Mary Waldie

MARY JANE BAKER WALDIE

Shueyville

Mary Jane Baker Waldie, 65, of the Shueyville area, passed away Sunday, June 28, 2015, at Mercy Iowa City Hospice Care unit. Jane requested there be no services or visitation. She will be cremated, with interment in Omaha, Neb., at a later date.

Jane is survived by William A. "Bill" Waldie Jr., her loving husband of almost 25 years. Other survivors include her brother, Frank C. "Buzz" Baker, and his wife, Terry Hamilton Baker, of Rockford, Mich.; mother-in-law, Barbara Waldie of Omaha, Neb.; sister-in-law, Ann Bolens, and her husband, Jim, of Rockwall, Texas; her nephew, Scott Baker, his wife, Rebecca, and their two children, of Burlington, Vt.; her nephew, David Bolens, his wife, Rachel, and their two children, of Rockwall, Texas; and her niece, Jamie Bolens, of Dallas. She will be greatly missed by her dogs, Bella and Cozette.

Jane was preceded in death by her parents, Frank C. Baker and Gladys E. Baker; and her father-in-law, William A. Waldie Sr.

Born July 10, 1949, in St. Joseph, Mo., Jane was the daughter of Frank C. Baker and Gladys E. (Miller) Baker. In St. Joseph, Jane attended John J. Pershing Elementary and graduated from Central High School in 1967. Her father was the Central High principal and her mother the women's PE teacher. Jane was salutatorian of her high school class and a member of the National Honor Society and Girls Athletic Association.

Jane attended the University of Kansas and in 1971, received her Bachelor of Arts degree (with honors) in Elizabethan history. In her senior year, she was elected to the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society. While at K.U., Jane was a four-year member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma (Omega Chapter) sorority. She had a passion for pre-Renaissance Italian art and following college, she traveled and studied extensively in Italy with her best friend (and future maid of honor), Marti Stewart, of Paris, France. Sharing her family's passion for teaching, Jane remained at K.U. to earn her master's degree in education.

During the summers of her college years and early professional life, Jane traveled to college campuses around the country as an instructor for the National Cheerleading Association.

Jane began her post-graduate professional career in 1973 as a teacher of history and literature at Lafayette High School in St. Joseph, Mo. She also sponsored the cheerleading squad and was the faculty's union representative.

In 1982, Jane left teaching and ventured to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for a career change (initially camping out at the home of Buzz and Terry Baker). She worked several retail jobs before gaining full time employment with Lease America (which eventually became a part of GE Capital). Jane served in several high level administrative roles, including supervising the integration of newly acquired leasing companies into GE Capital. She ascended to the position of vice president before retiring in 2008.

After Lease America was purchased by Transamerica, she met her husband, Bill, at work. They clicked immediately and became engaged after eight weeks. Jane and Bill were married Oct. 6, 1990, at the Coe College Chapel in Cedar Rapids.

They resided in the Iowa City area until they moved to their retirement house, south of Sheuyville, in August 2012.

They enjoyed traveling, including fishing trips to Canada, spent many summers in Minocqua, Wis., with their extended Baker clan, cherished the company of friends, and lived life to the fullest.

Jane made friends easily and many have remarked what a special and giving person she was.

After returning home Sunday and immediately missing the sound of Jane's laughter and loving presence, her husband remarked that "sometimes silence is not golden."

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in the memory of Mary Jane Baker Waldie to Mercy Hospice Care, 500 E. Market St., Iowa City, IA 52245.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.