SGM Ricky Bakke
October 18, 2015
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Service Details
Rick Bakke, age 51, of Ankeny, died October 18, 2015 at University Park Hospice Facility in Des Moines.
Rick was born October 12, 1964, in Grand Forks, ND, to Ron and Janis (Krueger) Bakke. He attended Unity High School in Petersburg, ND, where he was active in football and basketball. He graduated in 1983. He attended the University of North Dakota where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity until enlisting in the Army in 1987. He married Nancy Prom in 1988, and they have two daughters, Kendra and Sydney. Rick and Nancy divorced in 2015.
Throughout the course of his career, Rick served at many duty stations: Fort Hood, TX; Fort Kobbe, Panama (during Operation Just Cause); Fort Leonard Wood, MO; AFCENT, The Netherlands; Schofield Barracks, HI; Fort Lee, VA; Camp Arifjan, Kuwait (Operation Enduring Freedom); and Camp Dodge, IA. Rick was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major (SGM), a rank that fewer than 1% of enlisted soldiers ever achieve. He wore his uniform with pride, and served with loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
Rick adored his daughters, and he spent many hours with them reading, playing video games, wrestling, and watching Star Wars. Rick was an avid golfer and hunter, and he loved to watch the Vikings. He claimed to “bleed purple,” and he had faith every year that they would make it to the Super Bowl.
SGM Bakke is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Kendra and Joe Richardson of Kalona, and his daughter, Sydney, of Iowa City; his parents Ron and Janis Bakke (Hoople, ND), his sister & brother-in-law Tami and Tim Pierson (Crookston, MN), and his sister & brother-in-law Rochelle & Jim Behrendt (Bismarck, ND). He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ben and Louise Krueger and Chester and Florence Bakke.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 22 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Hamilton's near Highland Memory Gardens, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines. Burial will be Friday, October 23 at 9:30 AM at Iowa Veterans Cemetery. The funeral / memorial service will be Friday, October 23 at 11:30 AM at Hamilton's near Highland Memory Gardens.
Rick’s daughters request that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made in Rick's name to either The Fisher House Foundation or the Wounded Warrior Project.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Perry Bakke
10/23/2015
We grew up in the days when your best friends were your cousins and you adored your aunts, uncles, grand parents, and god parents. So happy to have lived in this time. There is nothing better than family. Rick was a proud American and Soldier. Here are the lyrics to Taps which will be played today:
Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the sky
All is well, safely rest
God is nigh.
Fading light dims the sight
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright
From afar, drawing near
Falls the night.
Thanks and praise for our days
Neath the sun, 'neath the stars', 'neath the sky'
As we go, this we know
God is nigh.
Love you cousin Rick!!
Mike & Karla Childs
10/22/2015
May you feel the loving arms of God wrapped around you, providing for your needs even before you ask. May you find healing and comfort in His care.
NCO Academy Hawaii
10/22/2015
On behalf of all NCO's past, present, and potential within the NCO Academy-Hawaii, please accept our deepest condolences to SGM Ricky Bakke's family. Thank you for your dedication to duty in training and mentoring future Non-Commissioned Officers. Your mentorship and excellence will live on in the Soldiers your trained.
Domingos Lobo
10/21/2015
Please accept my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Ricky. It was an honor to have served with such a great soldier, but more importantly a great person. May God embrace you in comfort during this difficult time.
Kenneth J. Reynolds
10/21/2015
Ricky will always be in our prayers. And we thank GOD for the time spent with Ricky in this life. We will all see again in the Kingdom.
Timothy Wilson
10/20/2015
Bakke Ohana, we are saddened to learn of your loss. Ricky was a great American and Soldier, and I am blessed to have known him. In my time with him, I gleaned that his family was his greatest joy! In the days ahead, may Gods supernatural peace be a blanket of comfort.
Chad Holtz
10/20/2015
I am blessed to have chosen Rick as my Big Brother when I joined Sigma Alpha Epsilon. I chose him for all the reasons you would find in a charming, endearing, welcoming person. In the years since college our paths crossed on far to few occasions, yet time does not separate the bonds forged by young men.
Kendra and Sydney, and all of Rick's family and friends, may God's grace shine upon you and give you peace.
Vestal Greer
10/20/2015
I am extremely saddened to hear about your families loss. As you know Rick was loved by all that were fortunate enough to have known him. My heart hurts for each of you. You will remain in my thoughts and prayers.
Debbie Bentley
10/19/2015
Nancy, Kendra and Sydney,
Too many years have passed since seeing your family, but my heart is aching for all of you. I will always remember Rick as the wonderful man and proud father and soldier he was. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time.