Steven Douglas Baker

Steven Douglas Baker passed away Friday, Feb. 10, surrounded by loved ones at St. Mary’s Mercy Hospital in Grand Rapids. Steve, 68, was a beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, as well as an avid outdoorsman, skilled handyman, animated storyteller, and a near-constant source of humor, distinct laughter, and jokes not appropriate for publication. Steve was never one for fancy things, but, in many ways, had something far more valuable: a knack for making meaningful and lasting impressions on those around him, often by injecting his unique brand of warmth and fun into their lives, providing memories and laughs that will long endure. (His fun-loving demeanor even inspired the writing of this obituary in a neighborhood bar, as he undoubtedly would've supported, and deemed fitting.) A lifetime Grand Rapids resident, Steve was born Feb. 6, 1955, to Gerald and Elaine Baker, as the first of their four kids. He graduated from Northview in 1973, where he made lifelong friends, played football, basketball, track, and baseball which added material to his overflowing quiver of colorful stories. Steve married Sharon Burocchi in 1980, and in the 1980s, owned a dog named Tasha who provided several of his "Greatest Hits" when it came to storytelling. Even after Steve and Sharon divorced, they remained very close in the years that followed. Steve's ultimate joy came through fatherhood and creating a family of his own. His only child, Adam, was born in 1986, whom Steve would go on to coach into a standout baseball player and help outfit with a great love of the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing -- and somehow endow with gentlemanly qualities. A string of nephews and nieces came in the years that followed, earning him the title of "Uncle Steve" & “Uncle Buck” -- a role in which he excelled, even if in unconventional ways, as a source of fun ideas and unfiltered commentary that typical parents or adults wouldn't provide. In recent years, Steve welcomed a daughter-in-law, Kayla, and then a granddaughter, Aria. His newest role of Papa brought him pure happiness and purpose, enjoying every opportunity possible to join his favorite girls for berry picking excursions and donut dates. Steve was perhaps most in his element while spending time up north, especially around family property in LeRoy. Lifelong friends, particularly Vern Bekker, Larry Miller, and Burt Ashenfelter, were companions in Steve’s adventures and were frequently featured characters in his stories. He also loved watching and talking about sports, enjoying a good gin and tonic, embarking on fishing and hunting trips around Michigan or alongside friends in Iowa, and cards, especially Cribbage. Many of Steve's later years weren't easy, as he confronted different health challenges, including complications of colon cancer and related operations. But he admirably overcame numerous hurdles with great strength and grit, never letting them diminish his spirit -- and even finding some new material for unlikely humor in the process. Steve is preceded in death by his father, Gerald. He is survived by his mother, Elaine, his siblings, Sheryl, Stuart, and Sheila (Todd), and his son, Adam, daughter-in-law, Kayla, and granddaughter, Aria. A large and loving extended family beyond those listed also feel loss with Steve’s passing. A Celebration of Life will be held in Steve’s memory at a future date to be determined. Donations in Steve’s name can be made to American Cancer Society.