Michael H. Baader

Michael Henry Baader peacefully left this life at the age of 81 on April 7, 2014.  Michael was born on August 11, 1932 in Chicago, IL to Henry and Lucille Baader.  He was the oldest of four children. He graduated from TildenHigh School in 1950.  He served in the Air Force from 1952-1956 as an Airman First Class/Airborn Radio Repairman with two tours of duty in Korea in 1953.  In 1958 he met Eleanor (Kansas) Baader and they were married July 26, 1958.  They celebrated 56 years of life and love together.  Michael and Eleanor had four children: William, Richard, Ronald, and Kathleen.  Michael was a loving, devoted husband and a wonderful father. Michael had a fulfilling career as an electronic engineer.  He worked at Amtron (1966-1980) and at Formax (1981-1999) involved with the design of food processing machinery and telecommunications.  Michael retired at the age of 67.  He lived in Oak Lawn, IL with his wife from 1960 to 2012, when they moved to Lake Zurich, IL.

Michael was an extremely hard-working person who threw himself into every project with the greatest vigor.  He was famous for doing his own “aerobic” car repairs often accompanied by German march music. In 1957, early in his engineering career, he would use his lunch break to work on special projects with colleagues and developed the first game-playing digital computer. Mike loved to sing and his rendition of the “Battle Hymn of the Republic” was legendary in the family.  He also liked to dance and few women could keep up with his energetic kicking polka style.  Mike was a devout Roman Catholic and even studied at the seminary for a time.  He taught Catechism and delivered Meals on Wheels for years.  He was an extraordinary person who was able to show remarkable restraint and yet exhibit a phenomenal tenacity and persistence to get the job done.  In retirement, Mike was an avid woodworker and made countless furniture pieces for his family.  Most of all, Mike will be remembered for being a loving family man who was always there to help his wife and kids.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Patricia. Michael is survived by his loving wife, Eleanor; his brothers, Robert (Evelyn) and Donald; his children, William (Aridana), Richard (Susan), Ronald, and Kathleen (Wayne) Gault; his grandchildren, Jennifer, Kristen, John, Rachel, Ellie, Adam, Luke, Robby and Norah; and his nephews and nieces, Jeff (Colleen), Aaron (Kerry), Christine, Tom (Denise), Barbara (Ed) and John (Ginger).

At his request, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the USO at www.uso.org or Maryknoll Missions at www.maryknoll.org.  You may share memories with the family on Friday, April 11, 2014 from 3-8pm at Ahlgrim Family Funeral Home 415 S. Buesching Road Lake Zurich, IL.  There will also be a visitation on Saturday, April 12, 2014 from 9:00am until time of prayers at 10:45am at the funeral home, then proceeding to St. Anne’s Catholic Church 120 N. Ela Street (Corner of Ela & Franklin Streets) in Barrington, IL for a Mass at 11:30am.