John Albert Bakker Obituary

   Memorial services for John Albert Bakker, 76, of Temple, brother to Dale Bakker, of Eastland, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, 2016 at First Baptist Church of Academy.

Burial will be at 3 p.m. Friday, May 6, at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.  

   Mr. Bakker died Saturday, April 16, 2016 at his residence.  

   He was born May 16, 1939 in Youngstown, Ohio to Albert Bakker and Dorothy Thode.  He graduated in 1957 and worked on the docks in Youngstown. He joined the

Army Reserve and moved to Colorado. The Army called him back to serve during the Berlin Crisis where he re-enlisted for active duty. He is a recipient of the Vietnam Service

Medal with four Bronze Service Stars, Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, and the Korean Service Medal. Upon transferring to Fort Hood in 1962, he met and married

Mary Ann Caswell. They started their family in 1964. After his retirement in 1980 he worked for another 20 years for Gidden Distributing. John had a fast life. He enjoyed drag racing and was

known as “Pops”.  He won various categories as the winning season point’s champion, and best street class. He had other hobbies such as watching golf, and westerns. He was a family man and

was loved by all. 

   Those left to honor his memories include his wife of fifty-three years, two sons, Stephen Small (Patricia), John W. Bakker (Brandi), four daughters, Sheri Young, Renate Baerscneider

(Roland), Carla Pedigo (David), Christina Coon; one brother, Dale Bakker; one sister, Claudia Harrigan; 13 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; and numerous other family and friends.   

   He is preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Glenn Bakker.  

   In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the First Baptist Youth Program of Academy.  

   Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Temple is in charge of arrangements.