Baker, Clifford

Clifford Baker

March 23, 2016

Clifford Baker, a longtime resident of Ann Arbor, MI, died March 23 in Fort Myers, FL.

He was bo on August 16, 1924 in Gilboa, Ohio, to Roy Baker, a sharecropper and disabled WWI veteran, and Zella (Hall) Baker, the longtime local schoolmarm.

Cliff served in the US Army Air Force during World War II as a pilot and flight instructor for B17s and B24s.

After the war, "String Bean" Baker set conference records for the track team at Bowling Green State University and graduated in 1948 with a degree in physical education. He also met the first love of his life, Grace Haab, of Ann Arbor; they married on Thanksgiving Day 1950. She preceded him in death. They were the parents of Beth (Ken) Misener of Rocky River, OH and David (Brooke) Baker of Canandaigua, NY.

Cliff spent his career as an entrepreneur, although he preferred to call himself a salesman or "peddler." His first company was Pop Tent, founded in Ann Arbor in the mid 1950s. He spent many years in the plastics industry, first at the Uniloy Division of Hoover Ball Bearing, where he was a pioneer in the development of the plastic milk bottle. He later started several successful plastics companies of his own, and was inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1997. He started his last company, Martini Golf Tees, with his family at the age of 84.

He married the second love of his life, Gladi Fahlgren on February 22, 2000. They split their time between Ann Arbor and Fort Myers, where they were known to always be the first ones on the dance floor.

In addition to Gladi and his children Beth and David, grandchildren Melissa Misener (Jeff) Holland, Robert Misener and Jack Baker, Cliff is survived by children Don (Rosemary) Fahlgren, Mary Ann (Robert) Maziasz, Robert (Jessica) Fahlgren, Jane (Robert) Grambo; grandchildren Bradley, Stacey (Scot), Steve (Stephanie), Rachel (John), James, David, Matt, Julia (Katie), Margaret, Kimberly and Megan; great-grandchildren Sarah, Luke, Benjamin, Mackenzie and Mitchell; sister Mary Lou Patrick of Leipsic, OH, and many nieces and nephews.

When faced with his final challenge and told he had one year to live, Cliff never complained or felt sorry for himself; he stayed positive and hopeful and lived almost another four years, thanks to his determination and Gladi's care. He and his family were grateful for every extra day.

Visitation will be Friday, April 22 from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm at Nie Funeral Home, 3767 W. Liberty Rd., Ann Arbor. The funeral service is 1 pm Saturday, April 23 at First United Methodist Church, 120 South State St., Ann Arbor.

Memorial tributes may be made to Hope Hospice; First United Methodist Church of Ann Arbor; Jenkins/University of Michigan Urology Fund to support cancer research, 2127 Highland Rd., Ann Arbor MI 48104; or .

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