Janna Baker

Janna Vandergrift Baker was born on April 29, 1964, to Gary and Carol (Andringa) Vandergrift in Bellflower, Calif. Janna attended school at Bellflower Christian & Valley Christian schools. While in high school, she was part of the cheer and drill teams. Janna was also part of a singing choir with performances throughout the Los Angeles area. Janna’s job after high school was a bank teller, while also helping her family business (store-front rides for kids). It was there where she fell in love with Glenn Baker in 1984 when he was working as a welder/mechanic for her family’s business. They would later tie the knot on February, 27, 1988, thanks to Floyd Wasmand & Uncle Marion Sybesma who connected them at the family business. The couple moved to Edgerton, Minn., where they would start their life together. Janna worked at Huisken Meat Co., Fey Industries Inc. and Hardee’s. Their son, Brandon, was born on May 29, 1992. Janna was an amazing mother who went to all lengths to be sure Brandon excelled. She loved taking Brandon swimming, trips to California to visit her parents and grandparents and the two of them thoroughly enjoyed chatting about politics. Janna enjoyed creating needle point projects, scrapbooking, connecting with people and working at McDonald’s in Pipestone. Janna kept the farming operation moving along with her vivacious personality to keep things lively, especially being “Queen” for those from S. Africa!!!! Everyone always enjoyed the humor and lunch-bucket snacks she would bring to the workers during harvest season. She also enjoyed running the grain cart during this time until her son was promoted, coerced, bribed – whatever she had to do to get Brandon to take her place! Janna would later take care of her aging parents during the last years of their lives, especially in the winter months with her mother. It was a blessing to her parents and filled Janna’s heart that she could help her parents during this time. Janna wanted a home in Ariz., so in 2016 a condo was purchased and they upgraded to a home in 2019. Janna loved the sun, pool and the awesome views and weather Arizona provided. Janna and Glenn enjoyed cruises, beach vacations, travels abroad and meeting new people from all walks of life. She shared her faith and politics with those she would meet throughout the years. Janna enjoyed her church family in Woodstock and the “snowbird” church in Mesa. She would spend time at their home in Mesa, Ariz., where she would help the McDonald’s team as she just loved this job. Ironically, Janna peacefully passed away sitting in her vehicle after finishing a shift, on Wed., Oct. 28, 2020, where she loved being surrounded by her work family.

Left to cherish Janna are her husband and son (significant other, Lydia Kinderman); her brothers, Jim (Luanne) Vandergrift of Palmyra, New York; Greg (Teresa) Vandergrift of Bellflower, Calif.; her mother-and-father-in-law Gert and Bernard Baker, Edgerton, Minn.; sister-in-laws Darla (Colin) Fiekema, Leota, Minn., Janet (John) Stellingworth, Fort Collins, Colo., and Julie (Tom) Van Soelen, Lawrenceville, Ga. In addition to the many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews throughout the USA. Janna is preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, a special nephew, Matthew Vandergrift, and the five babies that were miscarried.

Memorials are preferred to Atlas for Deb’s house, 101 2nd St NE, Pipestone, MN 56164.

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