Jane Louise Bakewell

Jane Louise Bakewell, 97, of Endicott passed away December 5, 2023.  She was born August 7, 1926, to Captain Eber and Edna Hester (Compton) Fairchild in the farmhouse built by her grandparents Herman and Jane Hannah (Alderman) Fairchild.  This farmhouse would be central to her life as she and husband Robert Bakewell would purchase it in 1954.  Here they made many improvements, raised their two sons, entertained, and lived there until she moved to Gardenside Nursing Home in 2020.

Jane graduated from Endicott High School in 1943, attended Fairbury Junior College, and graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1946.  Upon graduation, she taught business courses at Fairbury High School from 1946 to 1951.  Jane married her high school classmate Robert Lee Bakewell on June 3, 1951, at the Endicott Methodist Church.  They lived in Beatrice, and she taught high school in Virginia, Nebraska until returning to Endicott in 1954.  Jane returned to teaching business courses at Fairbury Junior College (Southeast Community College) in 1959, received her master’s degree from the University of Nebraska in 1966, and retired in 1983.  In retirement, she enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, baking, canning and freezing the produce of the farm, oil painting, watching all KC and UNL sports on television, and traveling.  Jane and Robert experienced trips to England, Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and everyplace in between.  Many of these included traveling in one of Robert’s antique automobiles.

Jane was active in the Endicott and Fairbury communities.   She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma society of professional women educators, Daughters of the American Revolution, and was a member of the board that spearheaded the restoration of the 1923 Fairbury High School into low-income housing.  She was a lifetime and active member of the Endicott Methodist Church.

Jane was preceded in death by her husband Robert Bakewell and siblings Wayne Fairchild, Florence Fairchild Milne, Margaret Fairchild in infancy and Warren Fairchild.  Jane is survived by her sons Jeffrey (Marcy) Bakewell and Gregory (Karen) Bakewell; grandchildren Jared (Leigh) Bakewell, Jason (Christina) Bakewell, Christianne Bakewell (fiancé Zach Brienza), Melissa Bakewell (Haynes Hansen); and great granddaughters Liv and Elle Bakewell.

Services will be Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 10:30 A.M. at the Endicott Methodist Church, with burial at the Fairbury Cemetery.  The family will greet friends Friday evening the 15th from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home.  Memorials to go to the Endicott Methodist Church or Fairbury Cemetery Association Road Fund.  Gerdes-Meyer Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements. www.gerdesmeyerfh.com