William Baker

William “Bill” P. Baker, 90, of Platteville, Wisconsin, died at his home on Wednesday, December 10, 2025. Visitation is Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory in Platteville from 4:00 - 7:00 PM. A parish rosary is at 3:45 PM. At 7:00 PM, the Platteville Volunteer Fire Department will perform a last call ceremony. Mass of Christian Burial is Wednesday, December 17, 2025, at 11:00 AM at St. Mary Catholic Church, Platteville. A parish rosary will recited at 10:45 AM. A chapel military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #42 and VFW Post #5273 following Mass. After which a luncheon is served. He will be buried at Calvary Cemetery, Platteville. There will be no visitation on Wednesday.  Memorials may be made to the William Baker Memorial Fund.  Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com. 

Bill was born on May 30, 1935, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the son of Frank G. and Dorothy E. (Kelley) Baker.  Bill was united in marriage to Rosemary A. Faherty on January 11, 1958, at St. Mary Catholic Church, Platteville.  Bill served in the United States Army.  He worked at Heiser Hardware, Reese Plumbing & Heating, AY McDonald, Dick's Super Market and after retiring he worked part-time at NAPA.  Bill was a volunteer fireman for the city of Platteville for 27 years, he was Captain of Truck 6, an equipment truck.  Bill was a “Jack of all trades, Master of none” and enjoyed tinkering with things around the home. He enjoyed: learning about history, watching movies, reading, wood working and a good game of pinnacle or cribbage.

Bill is survived by his wife, Rosemary and eight children: Peter (Kitty Murphy), Perry (Jennifer), Maria (Kevin) Garvey, Paul (Sentra), Margaret (Keith) Carpenter, Melissa (Steve) Tranel, Patrick (Cathy Massey) and Joe (Phoebe); 13 grandchildren, Ben (Rikki) Baker, Abbie (Alex) Noble, Frank (McKenzie) Baker, Jason (Marie) Garvey, Amanda (Blake) Womack, Brandon Baker, Zach (Lindsey) Baker, Emily Baker, Allie Carpenter, Jon Baker, BJ (Jen) Baker, Phoebe Rosemary Baker, and Camille Baker and 14 great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters in-law, Rena Baker, Joan Faherty, Pauline Mischefski, Shirley Faherty, Joe (Delores) Faherty, Karen Eastlick, Patrick (Alice) Faherty and Dennis Young and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Phillip, grandson, Nathaniel Baker, brother, Ronald Baker, sister, Beulah (Gerald) Thomas, and brothers and sisters in-law, Harold (Lucy) Faherty, Eileen (Clarence) Olson, Keith Faherty, Ralph (Joan) Faherty, Edward Mischefski, Francis Faherty, Bernard Eastlick and Barbara Young.