Kent Baker
Kent A. Baker, 74, of Moville, passed away Friday, September 23, 2022 after a lengthy illness. A family burial will be held at a later date.
Kent was born March 22, 1948 in Sioux City, Iowa. He was the adopted son of Carl E. and Miriam (Hawthorn) Baker Nye.
He attended and graduated from Woodbury Central High School in 1966. After graduation, Kent served in the Peace Corps in Africa. He later attended South Dakota State University and Iowa State University.
Kent was employed as a journalist for the Glidden, Iowa newspaper, as well as The Des Moines Register. He spent several years in Honolulu, Hawaii where he was the News Director and later the CEO for Fox Channel 2 television station.
In 2000, Kent moved back to Moville and purchased The Moville Record, which was his life-long dream. He served as president, owner and publisher of the newspaper until his retirement. He was active in the Moville community, and served on the MCDAI board. He was also co-chairman of the Moville@125 committee.
Kent is survived by his brother Dale (Kathleen) Baker of Lincoln, NE; nephews Nick (Holly) Baker of Lincoln, NE, and Claire, and Jeff (Lisa) Baker and Wyatt and Thomas of Lincoln, NE; and many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Holly Springs Bible Fellowship Church, MCDAI, or directed to your favorite charity in Kent’s memory.
Kent Baker was my good friend for 40 years. It was time for him to Rest In Peace without pain.
There are so many things I could say about Kent that his friends would understand. His devotion to news, his ardent support of all of us in his universe, and yes his good natured bickering or attempted gruffness.
I was in the production department when KHON TV Honolulu was ordered to reduce staff. Kent was told to release 2 employees in the News Department. His response to corporate.. “Fine, I’ll be number 1 and you can pick number 2″…. corporate backed off. That was Kent in a nutshell. Loyal and supportive…always. Plus he was pretty good playing Space Invaders at a local restaurant…..
I echo the sentiments of Bob Pritchard. Kent led our KHON TV in Honolulu with the finest crop of reporters who told their stories on the air for the No. 1 rated TV news broadcast in Hawaii. We all have fond stories of Kent – which we who were grateful to have known him as a manager, mentor and friend will share when we come together in Hawaii to hoist a beverage to his memory.
I was a witness to the immense love Kent had for everyone in his life. He truly had a heart of gold. He will forever have a piece of my myne. I honor the many hours we spent chatting about anything and everything up until recently. He was simply the best.
I love, and already miss U old man!
See U on the other side;)
Kent edited my stories during three years I spent at the Des Moines Register 1977-1980 and we stayed in touch all the decades after. He was a wonderful guy–an earlier note in this thread speaks of his attempted gruffness, which sounds spot on. I can still see him in his newspaper days, leaning dangerously backward in his chair, editing with one hand on the keyboard, making magic. A decent and considerate man in every way.
Kent was a special person. He often put others needs before his own. Kent and my husband Ken were transferred to Hawaii from Iowa at the same time. Kent as News Director and Ken as Director of Operations. It was easier to move to Hawaii knowing that Kent would there. Ken was always thinking of other. In point, we had Kent for, dinner once having one of his favorite, cabbage rolls. My oldest son yelled out ” there’s a hair in my food”. Just as I was about to slide under the table. Kent spoke up and told Kenny keep it to yourself or everyone else will want the extra protein too. Kent’s life was will spent, touching the lives of so many in a loving and caring way. God Bless