Irene Faye Bakker

Irene Bakker age 82 of Tracy, MN, died Saturday, May 11, 2013 at her home in Tracy. Services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, May 18, 2013 at the Tracy Lutheran Church. Visitation will be from 4:00 until 7:00 PM Friday, May 17, 2013 at the Almlie Funeral Home in Tracy, with a prayer service at 7:00 PM and continuing one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be in the Tracy City Cemetery, with a luncheon served in the church social hall immediately following the burial. Irene Faye Bakker was born February 28, 1931 to Azro A. and Della (Greenman) Daniels in Tracy, MN. She was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith and attended Tracy Public Schools, graduating from Tracy High School in 1949. As a young woman, Irene worked as a bookkeeper for Stonehill Creameries in Tracy. In 1950 Irene married Melvin Clark and they made their home on a farm near Revere, MN. They moved to Tracy in the early 1950’s and then on to several other communities in Minnesota, Iowa, California and Colorado before moving to Chandler, MN in 1967. During their marriage, Irene and Melvin had five children, one girl who passed away a day after childbirth and four sons. In 1971, Irene married Guys Bakker and they made their home on a farm near Chandler. Irene continued her education and received an Associates Degree in Accounting. Irene and Guys adopted eight special needs children and moved to a farm near Garvin, MN in 1979. They moved their family to a home in Tracy in 1982, where Irene remained living after her husband’s death in 2005. In 2010 Irene married Albert Dalle and they made their home at Irene’s house in Tracy. Over the years Irene worked for NSP in Tracy, MN as an office clerk; at the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, MN as a nurses aid; she did accounting and taxes from her home; and she did housework and child care for many friends and neighbors. Irene authored and published seven books, had countless poems that were published, she wrote a song that was made into a record, and was a greeting card writer. She was an advocate for the handicapped and less fortunate her whole life, giving of whatever she had or could to many. Irene was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Tracy and served as an elder, taught Sunday School, and was also active in the church women’s groups in years past. Irene enjoyed gardening, both vegetable and flowers, fishing, baking, collecting antiques and other things, such as spoons, and letter writing and staying in touch with many family and friends. After a courageous battle with cancer, Irene died at the age of 82 on Saturday, May 11, 2013 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. Irene is survived by her husband, Albert Dalle of Tracy, MN; six sons, Jerry (Valerie Van Meveren) Clark of Ivanhoe, MN, Lonnie (Vicki) Clark of Chandler, MN, Michael (Dory) Clark of Tracy, MN, Danny (Laurie) Clark of Ruthton, MN, Jeffrey Bakker of Marshall, MN, and Brian Bakker of Tracy, MN; five daughters, Abby, Holly, Stephanie, Suzanne and Cheri Lyn Bakker, all of Tracy, MN; fourteen grandchildren; twenty nine great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; Albert’s children, seven daughters, Mary Dalle of North Augusta, GA, Loretta (Eugene) Ivy of Austin, TX, Geri (Dale) Johnson of Lakeville, MN, Cheryl (Kevin) DeJaeghere of Sioux Falls, SD, Denise (Gregg) Poskas of Elko, MN, Gloria Poulos of Mankato, MN, and Regina (Dan) Casper of Dodge City, KS; four sons, John (Lupe’) Dalle, Roger Dalle and David Dalle, all of Marshall, MN, and Greg (Michelle) Dalle of Raymond, MN; twelve grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sister, Betty Pool of Tracy, MN; two brothers, Amos (Jeri) Daniels and Andy (Shirley) Daniels, both of Tracy, MN; nieces, nephews, and many very good friends who were like family to Irene. Both of her parents, her husband, Guys Bakker, two daughters, Betsy Bakker and Mary Dell Clark, stepson, Gerard Dalle, two brothers, Edward and Archie Daniels, two sisters, Evelyn Swanjord and Nellie Whiteside, and one nephew, Todd Pool, preceded her in death.