Leland Baie

April 17, 2018

Service Details

Leland Baie was born October 29, 1933, to Leo and Lucille (Goodman) Baie in Rhodes, Iowa. He enjoyed referring to himself as a “Rhodes Scholar” having graduated from Rhodes High School in 1951. He died suddenly of a heart attack on April 17, 2018, at his home.

He had always had a job since he was a boy, with his first job being that of delivering newspapers. He eventually worked for the B.F. Goodrich Company in Marshalltown back in the day when they also sold TV’s and appliances. Part of his job involved delivery of goods sold. He enjoyed telling about how customers would call about that delivery guy’s crazy driving! He said that there is still dust and gravel kicked up throughout Marshall and Story Counties due to his careless driving where he would enjoy his loud cars, driving as fast as he could where ever he could.

He also enjoyed many a boyhood and youth adventures with his friends. If he was telling a story from his past, when a tale began, “One day so-and-so and I…” often didn’t end well for someone! He and his buddies were more into having a fun time and less about if their behavior was appropriate. After hearing so many tales from his youth, his family is amazed he lived past age 18, let alone to age 84.

Aging didn’t change him much as his family frequently referred to a reckless driver as having graduated from “the Lee Baie School of Driving.” Age didn’t affect his desire to drive, to act like he did while in his teens at all.

Eventually Lee met his wife Norma Keagle from Collins, who lived in Des Moines, and he moved to Des Moines where they settled on the East Side. They were married in 1959. Lee was employed at the former Des Moines Savings and Loan and worked his way up throughout all the changes in the company until he retired as a Vice President in 1994. They were long time members of St. Peter’s Catholic Church.

Lee was never one to sit around and miss out on any fun. His favorite times were with family and friends, the more the merrier. He enjoyed being the center of attention and was excellent at playing pranks, being pranked, or doing something totally ridiculous for laughs. Many photos exist of him with a variety of hats worn, objects messed with, or various other props used for his amusement.

His yard was a source of pride and joy for him, as it had to be perfect at all times. It was rare that he would be inside on a nice day when he could be puttering around picking a weed or watering something. If he was inside, he was probably watching the Chicago Cubs, basketball, or an old movie or western.

He always enjoyed grilling things on his numerous gas grills he owned over the years. He was a great outdoor chef. He enjoyed dining out and his and Norma’s favorite place was the Drake Diner where he continued to go to be served by their favorite waitress, Mary. He never had a meal he didn’t like!

His family was a great source of pride for him, not only his immediate, but extended family and very close friends he considered family. He especially enjoyed his times with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Nothing pleased him more than being “Grandpa.” Of course, he was a very silly Grandpa, not being too overly serious about playing the ideal role model. He was a fun Grandpa, and his grandchildren have many funny pictures and stories to prove it.

Heaven will never be the same as he surely announced loud and clear that he had arrived! He undoubtedly looked for the food and beverage area immediately after finding his wife Norma, sister Irene Banzhaf, his parents, and granddaughter Katherine Ann Fitzpatrick, who preceded in death.

He will be missed by his daughters Lisa Fitzpatrick (Ray) and Joleen Ellenwood (Brad Harrison), grandchildren Emily Ellenwood (James Wells), Evan Ellenwood, Michael Fitzpatrick and Sarah Juhl (Matthew Juhl), and great grandchildren Ivy and Kal Wells. Others include nieces and nephews Connie Westphal (Tim) and Gary Banzhaf (Cindy), great nieces and nephew Cheri, Autumn, Heidi, Cooper and Ruby, all of Marshalltown, and lifelong friends Andy (Carroll) and Eileen Anderson and their sons Jack and Jason.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 pm, Friday, April 20, 2018 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon St, Des Moines. Mass of Christian Burial will be 12 pm, Saturday, April 21, 2018 at St. Peter Catholic Church, 612 E 18th St, Des Moines. Burial will take place at St. Joseph Cemetery, Rhodes, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be made to the NICU at Blank Children’s Hospital or any animal charity of your choice, as those who knew Lee know how much he loved his dogs he had over the years, Gidget, Muffin, Sugar, Lucky and Sparky.

The family would like to thank Dr. Jay Rosenberger, Jennifer, and staff for their wonderful care of Lee over the years.

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