Kathleen H. Baker

Kathleen “Kathy” Helen Baker (Rose) was born to eternal life on February 18, 2025 after a courageous battle with lung cancer. She was born in 1953 to the late Ruth and Marvin Rose in Green Bay, WI. Kathy graduated from West De Pere High School and attended college at UW Stout and UW Menasha. She worked as a real estate agent for over 23 years at Coldwell Banker as well as Keller Williams in Appleton.

She lived most of her life in the Fox Cities in Sherwood, WI and later in Appleton. When she retired, she spent most of her time in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico: a place that she truly loved. She dearly loved her children, grandchildren and great grandsons and enjoyed having some of them visit her in Mexico. Her passion was helping children, particularly Perla and Jasmin at Casa Hogar, where she taught English for many years at one of the local orphanages in Puerto Vallarta, and a private school where she taught English with Pablo. Many friendships were made in Puerto Vallarta over her 30+ years of travel there. 

Playing sheepshead in Wisconsin was another way she made friendships over the years and it is where she met her husband, Michael, best friend, Lauri Schmitt and Chris Wolter. The German card game was taught to her by her grandparents, father, and brothers, and any time there was a get together with them, the cards would always come out. 

As a member of Christ the Rock Church since 2010, she recommitted her life to Jesus Christ and was baptized there. She volunteered in Son Harbor working with children. She loved attending Lifest, a Christian music festival with her grandkids. She had many Church sisters and spent time in Bible study with Debbie, Mary, Teea, Toni, Bonnie, and Liz. With Oscar Frey and the late Keith May she spent hours on Banderas Bay watching whales. Some of her ashes will be placed there. 

Kathy will be deeply missed by her 3 sons, Matthew (Melissa) Lemerond, Nicholas Lemerond, Tyler Lemerond; her step-daughter, Wendy (Mark) Neuok; her grandchildren, Merissa, Cassandra, Matthew, Luke, Hailey, Myles, Monica, Paul, Abby, Jozie, Jocelynn, Jason, and Gabe; her great-grandsons, Rylan, Samson, Grayson, and Callan; her stepmother, Sandy Rose; her brothers, Steve (Faye) Rose, Jeff (Lori) Rose, Scott (Priscila) Rose; her sister, Melissa (Tim) Watermolen; her sister-in-law, Laurel Rose; her in-laws, Kathy (Paul) Clavette, Tom Baker, Barb (Phil) Prosen, Margie (Steve) Trojanowski, and Mary (Scott) Ruehle; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended relatives, and her dear friends, Lauri Schmitt, Susie Patton, Pablo Zuñiga, Kathy Chevalier, Carolyn Kampa, Amanda Lauer, and Susan McCollum.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Michael Baker; her former spouse, Ronald Lemerond; mother-in-law, Lorena Lemerond; her brother, Brad Rose; her stepdaughter, Ann Haller; and her stepson, Daniel Baker. 

A memorial visitation will be held for Kathy from 11 AM – 1 PM on Friday, February 28, 2025 at Christ the Rock Community Church, W6254 US-10, Menasha, WI 54952 with a memorial service to follow at 1 PM, officiated by Pastor Ben Lenz. She will be laid to rest alongside Michael at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Sherwood, WI in the Spring of 2025. Flowers are always appreciated, but she would’ve been incredibly thankful for donations to the memorial fund that’s being established for organizations she was passionate about, such as NAMI Fox Cities, Bandares Bay Women’s Shelter, her Puerto Vallarta organizations, and Life Promotions (Lifest). 

Kathy’s family would like to extend a special thanks to the nurses and caregivers at Dimensions Assisted Living, Katy of Moments Hospice, and Carolyn and Sara who provided amazing support for Kathy as her life wound down. 

“I am not leaving this earth without my footprints leaving an impact. Please do what you can to help someone else as a remembrance of me.” - Kathy