Charles Chester Baake Resident of Lafayette With family and loving caregivers at his side, longtime Lafayette resident Charles Baake died on March 21. He was born on August 14, 1921 in Plainfield, N.J., and grew up in the Depression, learning the value of hard work. He received a business degree from the University of Miami, and enlisted in the Army Air Corps at the onset of World War II, rising to master sergeant in the 98th bombardment group. He married Geraldine (Gerry) Portugal in 1946, and the two settled in the New York City area, where Charlie worked for marketing and publishing firms. They had two children, Valerie and Tom. When Charlie got a job with San Francisco-based Miller Freeman Publications in 1954, the family moved west. In addition to guiding technical magazines, books and newsletters into publication, Charlie also helped with the company's conferences and seminars. He rose to senior vice president and served on the company's board. Charlie's job involved frequent travel, and he and Gerry visited just about every continent over the years. They also spent many Christmas seasons in Maui. Charlie was a lay reader for St. Anselm's Episcopal Church in Lafayette. He was also active in Lafayette's incorporation campaign in the late 1950s, and in efforts to curb commercial sprawl. He was preceded in death by wife Gerry in 2008. He's survived by daughter Valerie Baake and her fianc‚ Kunio Narasaki; son Tom; granddaughter Andrea and her husband Eldon Halliburton; and great-granddaughter Elaine Collen; grandson Daniel Franke and his wife Jessica and their children Charlie and Samantha. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Hospice of the East Bay, 3470 Buskirk Ave., Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 or the charity of your choice. Services will be held at 1:00pm on Saturday, March 27 at St. Anselm's Episcopal Church, 682 Michael Lane in Lafayette.
Published in Contra Costa Times from March 25 to March 27, 2010