Susanne "Sue" Wheaton Baker

Susanne “Sue” Wheaton Baker, 88, passed away on February 28, 2025, in Fishers Indiana. She was born on May 6, 1936, in Geneva, Illinois, to parents, Ralph Lowrie Wheaton, Jr., and Virginia Mary (Conley) Wheaton and great great granddaughter of Jesse Wheaton. Although raised in Wheaton Illinois, Sue lived her life in many places, connecting with the community and leaving those communities better for her participation, including South Carolina, Texas, Virgina, Delaware, and Arizona.

Susanne graduated early from Purdue University in 1957 to marry Richard A. Baker. She had many beloved roles in her life including wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, grandmother and great grandmother. Her favorite roles revolved around her family. She would drop everything when a family member needed her help. She always traveled to participate in her grandchildren’s events and loved spending summer vacations with extended family. She was fascinated by history and British royalty, loved to watch musicals and old movies, and in the fall/ winter was an avid football and basketball fan, especially March madness. Sue had an infectious laugh and was a master of information to win trivia games, especially against the rest of her family. She loved to travel and was very proud of visiting all 50 states including a family reunion in Alaska. She cruised to South America, the Panama Canal, the Caribbean, and Norway, and toured Ireland. She took bucket list trips later in life with her children, traveling to Australia/ New Zealand, China, and Greece/ Europe. She valued education and attended every graduation of her children and her grandchildren. Sue was an avid seamstress – making her children’s clothes, grandchildren’s American Girl Doll clothes often with matching dresses for each granddaughter, Christmas decorations, and sewing in a friend’s drapery business. She loved gardening and shared her vast plantings with family and friends. She loved to bake and host holiday celebrations. She was an active member in the Methodist Church in Hockessin, DE and Green Valley, AZ.

Sue is survived by her daughter, Kathryn “Kathi” and Joseph (former spouse) Skibek and their children, Adam (Lauren) Skibek and son (Hobbs) and daughter (Winnie), Jason (Rose) Skibek and daughter (Rose), and Jennifer Skibek; son, William “Ken” and Nita Baker and their children, Mara Baker and Matt Baker; daughter, Laura “Lauri” and Bruce Kolb and their children, Sarah (Nate) Keever and Andrew (Megan) Kolb; sister, Mary W. Tylman; sister-in-law, Bonnie M. Wheaton; brother and sister-in-law, William “Bill” and Judy Baker, sister-in-law Joyce Baker; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Richard A. Baker; parents, Ralph and Virginia Wheaton; brother, Ralph “Chip” Lowrie Wheaton III; and brother-in-law, David Baker.

Services are planned for 11:30am June 7, 2025, in Wheaton, Illinois at Gary United Methodist Church. Private interment following service.

Memorial contributions in her name may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association at P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011 or online at Make A Donation | Alzheimer's Association.