Dr. Bruce Baker

Bruce Arthur Baker, 63, of Brenham, passed away on February 13, 2022. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at Calvary Baptist Church of Brenham. The family looks forward to visiting with guests in the hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Prairie Lea Cemetery.

Bruce was born in Peoria, Illinois, to parents George and Dora (Wilson) Baker. At age 21, Bruce entered the US Navy. He served for 11 years and attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer, ETC(SW).

During his time in the military, Bruce met his future wife Bonnie Rodeck, who was fresh out of bootcamp at the time. They were united in marriage on December 12, 1981 and had just celebrated their 40th anniversary at the time of Bruce’s passing. Bruce and Bonnie provided a loving Christian home for their children Daniel, Jacob, and Elizabeth.

Bruce was honorably discharged from the US Navy in 1991. Although committed to his military service, his heart was truly in the ministry. The family moved to Kansas City, where Bruce attended Calvary Theological Seminary. He graduated in 1997 with a Masters of Divinity. He later returned to school to earn his PhD in Systematic Theology from Baptist Bible Seminary in Clarks Summit, PA.

Bruce’s true passion in life was spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. Bruce was blessed with the opportunity to pastor congregations in Kansas, Missouri, Michigan, and eventually Brenham, Texas. As long as his health permitted, he traveled overseas to train pastors and church leaders on a yearly basis in over 11 countries on 4 different continents. After Bruce’s first trip to central Africa in 2007, he developed a passion and love for the people of the region. Bruce eventually founded Becoming Mature, an organization dedicated to training pastors and building churches in central Africa.

Bruce was also a published author. He has written and published many articles over the years on various theological topics. He was also blessed to have written and published two books, “Spiritual Maturity”, and “For Thou Art With Me: Biblical Help For the Terminally Ill and Those Who Love Them”. The second book came on the heels of Bruce’s diagnosis of ALS in 2018. As he adjusted to his difficult new reality of living with a terminal illness, he felt called to write a guide to help others in his situation.

Throughout his illness, Bruce took great comfort in his faith. He passed away from complications of ALS on February 13, 2022, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Bruce is survived by his wife, Bonnie; children Daniel (Crystal Fulara) Baker, Jacob (Katie Dryer) Baker, and Elizabeth (Baker) Roberson and husband Jacob; grandchildren Nathaniel, Ezekiel, Isaac, Rebecca, Leah, Elijah, Micah, Titus, James (better known as Kai), and Asher; his sister Amy (Baker) White; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents.

In lieu of sending flowers to the family, they request that you make a donation in Bruce’s memory to www.BecomingMature.org/donate