Claude Paul Baker, 91, of Kankakee, passed away Saturday (April 13, 2013) at Riverside Medical Center, Kankakee.

He was born April 11, 1922, in Union Hill, the son of Edward and Caroline (Desens) Baker. His wife, the former Madeline Giardina, whom he married Jan. 5, 1951, passed away Dec. 23, 2004. Mr. Baker was a self-employed real estate agent, where he served as a broker and developer for Baker, Durell and Maltby. In 1961, he started the first FM station in Kankakee, WKAK, with his brother, Ken, and Bill Maltby. Claude also sold cemetery plots years ago for Kankakee Memorial Gardens in Aroma Township. Claude proudly served his country in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a private from 1942 to 1946. He was a member of the Vintage Squadron Flight 1. He was a former member of St. John Evangelical and Reformed United Church of Christ. He was a former board member of the Municipal Trust and Savings Bank.

Claude is survived by many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Ken; and one sister, Vera Johnson.

A gathering time for friends and family will be from 11 a.m. Thursday until the 1 p.m. service at the Schreffler Life Story Funeral Homes, Kankakee Chapel. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Kankakee Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of Kankakee Valley.

To leave a condolence, share a special memory or sign Claude's online guestbook, please go to schrefflerfuneralhomes.com.

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