Charles Fredrick Baird II

Charles Fredrick “Fred” Baird II, 72, of Newton, died Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. A memorial service will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory followed by a visitation until 6 p.m. Memorials to Meals on Wheels may be left at the funeral home.

Fred, the son of Charles and Mary (Hannan) Baird, was born April 26, 1947, in Creston. He attended Catholic school in Creston until the eighth grade and then graduated from Creston High School in 1966. Fred lived in Detroit for a few years after high school before returning to Iowa where he lived in Newton and worked at the Maytag Company for the next 30 years. Fred was a proud 37 years member of AA and sponsored many people throughout the years. He loved cheering on the Iowa Hawkeyes, Kansas City Chiefs and the Newton Cardinals. Fred supported his children and grandchildren in all of their activities and had a knack for picking out just the right Christmas and birthday cards for each of them. He also had a great sense of humor and enjoyed watching old funny movies.

Fred is survived by his children, Chuck Baird (Brenda Havick) of Altoona, Aaron (Carrie) Baird of Monroe and Kacey (Joe) Strovers of Pleasant Hill; grandchildren, Colten and Jordyn Baird, Lilli and Delaney Baird, Kaitlynn and Alli Parsons, Sariah (Charlie) Comfort and Payton and Carter Strovers; his siblings, Kathy Jones of Canton, Mich., Bill Baird of Angier, N.C., and Tom (Brenda) Baird of Creston; and his several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Steven Baird.