Allen L. Baxter
September 25, 1951 ~ October 21, 2010
Allen L. Baxter, age 59, of Alta Vista, IA, died on Thursday, October 21, 2010, at his home near Alta Vista.
Allen Al Lee Baxter was born on September 25, 1951 to Gerald and Rosalee (Brauer) Baxter in Iowa City, Iowa. He graduated from Stuart High School in Stuart, Iowa. Upon graduation, Al enlisted in the US Navy serving as a Medical Corpman in the Boston Naval Hospital. After receiving his honorable discharge Al worked at John Deere in Ankeny while attending Iowa State University. He graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife. Al was united in marriage to Joanne Wood on April 11, 1984 in Marshalltown, Iowa. He continued working for John Deere until becoming a Conservation Officer. Al first served as a DNR officer in Scott County, Iowa before the couple made their home in Alta Vista. He then served Chickasaw and Howard Counties until his retirement in 2009. Al enjoyed the outdoors, fishing, hunting, mushroom hunting, collecting guns, and trap and skeet shooting. He dearly loved his grandchildren and walks in the woods. Al was a member of the Elk Lodge, Masonic Lodge, Fredericksburg Sportsmans Club, and Acme Gun Club.
Al is survived by his loving wife, Joanne; his children, Andrea (Bryan) Whitt of Sloan, Iowa, Angela (Roger) Harrell of Bettendorf, Iowa, Ross (Nicole) Baxter of Redfield, Iowa, and Abby Baxter of Alta Vista; his nine grandchildren, Lauren, Lucas, and Benjamin Whitt, Bailey, Mason, and Logan Hocker, Anthony, and Reese Harrell, and Daytan Petsche; his sister Rosanne Masteller of Des Moines, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother-in-law, Mike Masteller.
Memorials:
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Cemetery:
A private burial will be at a later date.
Visitation:
Visitation will be on Sunday, October 24, 2010 from 1:00-4:00 pm at Conway-Kolbet Funeral Chapel in Elma, Iowa.
Service:
A private memorial service will be held following visitation. Rites will be provided by DNR Officers.
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Baxter Family – I am so sorry to hear of Al’s passing. I worked with Al in the DNR’s Northeast district. Please accept my condolences to your family.
Baxter family I am so sorry about your loss. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Blessings to Allen’s friends and family as the grieve this loss. May God hold you in a warm and comforting embrace.
In Christ
Pastor Matthew R. Voyer
Stroudsburg PA
Dear Jo & Family,
Please accept our heartfelt condolences. We were so sorry to hear of Al’s sudden passing. Our thoughts and prayers go out o your entire family.
Sincerely,
Wayne & Pat
Dear Joanne and family,
So sorry to hear about Al. I used to wish I had his dedication to exercise/running when he would run past our house. Thank goodness you were able to celebrate a joyous occasion together this past weekend. You are in our thoughts and prayers. Lyle and Lynn
I am so sorry to hear about Al’s passing. He was a great Conservation Officer and a good friend. He will be missed.
Jo, Ross, Abby and family,
So sorry to hear about your loss! Thank God it didn’t happen before your wedding, Ross! There just isn’t any easy way to express how we feel. Thinking of you and praying for support and guidance for you during this difficult time. If there is anything we can do, let us know.
Joanne and family,
We are sorry for your loss. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Joe and Teresa
Our deepest sympathy go out to each of you at this
difficult time. Al will always be remembered for his DNR position as most of us met him in that role. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Thinking of you all, and praying for your comfort and peace.
We love you,
Joel & Therese
To the Baxter Family
Our deepest sympathies, Al and I would run into each other during fall night patrols, as he worked west into his adjacent counties while I worked east into my adjacent counties. We seemed to find each other’s “hiding spots” and when we did I enjoyed standing outside and talking and solving the “world’s problems” together.
To the Baxter family. Sorry to hear about Al, he was a wonderful person. Our parayers and thoughts are with you at this diffuclt time.
Al was a great guy. I remember hanging out with him at Ross and Nicki’s and he was such a character! He left us too soon. Please let me know if there is anything I can do.
Lots of love,
Kate
As a fellow officer(retired) I knew Al through his career as a Conservation Officer. I actually met Al before he started his career when we met and discussed his desire to become an officer. I can only give you my deepest sympathies for the loss of your husband, father, and grandfather. Al was a very good officer and will be missed by all Conservation Officers active or retired. Our prayers are with you Darrell and Marno Batterson
Dear Abby,
In this time of sorrow
May it comfort you
to know that
the thoughts and prayers
of others
are with you in deepests
Sympathy.
Brenda Parks and Rick Kobliska
Dear Al,
I do not have much luck with computers-I just lost the message I had for you. I toasted you last night and yes I was looking up. I have many fond memories of you and the variety of cases and hunts we shared. I am working on a TIP case today and you have been with me. A bit delayed but thanks for your encouraging words and your help in the past. Al, I know the good Lord is holding you close and do not forget to keep the powder dry! I love ya, buddy.
Dear Jo and family,
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Al was such a good friend. His sense of humor and love of people made him a fun guy to work with and be around. He was a excellent role model for his family and for so many others through his work. He was a true sportsman. We miss him. We will help you remember our good times with Al any time you want to. There were so many. Love to all.
I feel privileged to have known Al for so many years. Al was like a father to me. We shared many times in a duck blind, and even a few trips to Southern Iowa. He will be missed more than words can say. May God bless your family during this difficult time.
I’m so sorry to hear of Al’s passing. I will always remember the times we Fished,Hunted and worked together and those times at the Baxter house. Al will be missed!
Jo and family,
We were so sorry to hear of Al’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you. We had a lot of fun with Al when he was assigned to Scott County. Take care.
Craig & Gail Jackson
Jo and family, I am so sorry to hear of Al’s sudden passing. Please know that your family is in my prayers.
Jo and family, we extend our deepest sympathy. Please give us a call if there is anything we can do to help. We have so many fond memories of our time spent with Al and vacations together in the past we will treasurer them forever.
Jo, Ross & Abby –
I am so sorry for your loss. I have many great memories of time spent at your home when I was younger and babysat for Ross and Abby. Then in later years, Al was always supportive of me in my career endeavors. He always let me know he cared and was keeping track of what was going on with me. I’m so very glad for the chance to know him and all of you. God Bless, Erika Troyna
Joanne, Andi, Angela, Ross and Abby,
Al was a “good guy”! So kind to everyone and to my kids. One of those guys that would give you anything he had and then some. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you and all your families.
My deepest sympathies go out to Al’s family. I worked with Al as the DNR secretary for many years. Al took the time to always thank people and let them know he appreciated their efforts. He will be missed.
Our deepest sympathy go out to each of you at this difficult time. Remember to hold all the memories you had together close to your heart. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Adam & Christy Roethler
Our deepest sympathy to Jo and family. I have fond memories of working and associating with Al over the years. He will be missed.
Doug & Carol Strike
Ross and family. Please accept my condolences on Al’s passing. It is a difficult time and I wish you all the best. I think the things that I will always remember about Al is his grin and the twinkle in his eye when he told a good story, and he did have plenty of those.
Take care.
So sorry to hear about Al’s untimely death….
Creighton sends his sympathy too, He said he really enjoyed you and Al , Jo!
Love ..and thoughts..
Keith & Avis
Though I spent my DNR career in southwest IA I knew Al from our statewide meetings and for many years as fellow firearms instructors for the Law Enforcement Bureau. My condolences to his family in this difficult time.
Doug Clayton Council Bluffs, IA
Jo and family,
Just want you to know how deeply sorry Lance and I are.
We love all of you!
We are sorry for your loss. Our deepest sympathy goes out to your entire family. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.
As one of Al’s retired co-workers, Al’s retirement and life was cut way too short. His love of hunting and the shooting sports impacted everyone he came in contact with. I was lucky enough to have Ross, one of Al’s greatest contributions to the world as an intern in the Des Moines Office. Ross be proud of your Dad and congratulations to you for the man you have become, thanks to your Dad!
My thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
Rod Slings (retired)
Condolences to the family of Al Baxter. Al was the kind of man you could never forget.
Rest In Peace Al.
Don Simonson,
retired CO,
Unionville, IA
Jo & Family, we are so sorry to hear of the passing of AL. We enjoyed our times at the Buddy Holly events, when everyone could just let down & have a good time. May you find strength through this difficult time.
My deepest sympathies to family and friends during this most difficult time. Mostly, I knew him as the local game warden and a man who enjoyed his career and exhibited a deep passion for the conservation of natural resources. While employed with Chickasaw County Conservation, I enjoyed our conversations when we met at the county parks. I will always remember our conversations on a career in natural resources and I appreciated his encouragement to maintain my career aspirations to become a fisheries biologist. My thoughts and prayers are with his him and his family. Sincerely, Kevin Dockendorf
Joanne,
I had no idea Al was so sick.
We are sorry for your loss.
Our thoughts to you and the children.
Bob
We are sorry we missed Allen’s funeral. Long ago cousin of ours. His Grandma and our Grandma Mary Hutchins was cousins. May he rest in peice. Love Ed,Dorothy Hutchins, Dave and Judy Hutchins, Karen Hutchins Kaufman