Mae Jean Bakke
Mae Jean Bakke, 86, of Waukon died Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services were held Saturday, December 22 at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waukon, with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating. Burial was at the church cemetery. The family encourages memorials to Veterans Memorial Hospital or Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church, both of Waukon.
Mae Jean “Gee Gee” Bakke was born October 1, 1932 in Decorah, the daughter of Nels and Stella (Tollefson) Severson. She was baptized and confirmed at Decorah Lutheran Church, where she later was a member of the Dorcus Society, sang in the choir and taught Sunday school. She graduated from Decorah High School in 1951, after which she worked in Minneapolis, MN for a short time.
December 27, 1952, she married Joseph Hartwick Bakke at the Decorah Lutheran Church. Mae Jean and Joe started their life together by renting a farm in Ludlow Township of Allamakee County. A few years later, in 1965, they purchased a place of their own in Franklin Township. Mae Jean worked right alongside Joe in all aspects of the operation whether it be helping with the milking, tending to the pigs, managing the beef herd, or working in the fields. They continued to farm until retiring and moving to Waukon in 1992.
Mae Jean was a faithful member of Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church and helped with everything she was able to, but was particularly fond of working on the annual meatball supper and with the women’s quilting groups. She was a member of the Civil Service Commission, a volunteer at election polling sites for many years, and a life-long loyal Democrat.
Perhaps Mae Jean was best known for her love of being around and involved with people. She attended just about every community event that took place, was a member of card clubs and neighborhood clubs, enjoyed meeting her friends daily at the S&D Café for coffee, and went on countless outings for meals with friends at local restaurants.
She was an avid sports fan and seldom missed an Iowa Hawkeye game. Her family was very important to Mae Jean and she was a devoted supporter of all her nieces and nephews and later great-nieces and great-nephews. She not only attended almost all of their sporting events, concerts and other activities, but had a genuine and sincere interest in their personal lives and wellbeing.
Survivors include her sister, Lorna (John) Kerndt of Waukon; her nieces and nephews: John Jr. (Karen) Kerndt of Decorah, Tom (Beth) Kerndt, Craig (Jo) Kerndt, Kari (Gary) Hammel, Kristi (Robert) Campbell, Linda (Duane) Flatland and Bob Sivesind, all of Waukon, and Norman Sivesind of Minneapolis, MN; several grandnieces and grandnephews; and a great-grandnephew.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joe, in 2007; two brothers, Darwin and infant Loren Severson; a sister, Darlene (Clarence) Sivesind; a nephew, Steven Van Slooten; a great-grandnephew, Ethan Livingston; and her brothers-in-law, Helmer and Lester Bakke.
Honorary casketbearers were Robert Campbell, Duane Flatland, Gary Hammel, Tade, Trevor and Zach Kerndt, Auny Pole, Angie Pellett, Hunter and Haden Hammel, Connie Nagel, Cheryl Livingston, Carrie Glantz, and Bryce and Brianne Sivesind. Casketbearers were John Jr., Tom and Craig Kerndt, Norman and Bob Sivesind, and Steve Bakke.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
