By Jim Hagerty
Reporter

ROCKFORD – Longtime local journalist Joe Baker died Sunday, Nov. 24. He was 87.

Born Donald Joseph Baker on Oct. 18, 1932, he began his career in radio and TV broadcasting after serving in the Korean War as a member of the U.S. Army. He then spent 29 years as a staff writer for the Rockford Register Star, retiring in 1989.

Baker remained retired until 1998, when he was hired as the first editor of The North End Times, which later became The Rock River Times. He was a senior editor at TRRT until 2006.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Connie, who died in 2006. He is survived by his daughter, Julie Long; sister, Mary Marinaro; brother, John Baker; and sister-in-law, Kathy Baker.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m., to 10:15 a.m., Friday, 29, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2400 Bell Ave., Rockford. Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Online condolences can be shared at fitzgeraldfh.com.