Cecelia “Cis” Ann Baker

Cecelia “Cis" Ann Baker, 81, of Rhinelander, WI peacefully joined her Heavenly Father on June 20, 2026, surrounded by her loving family, from natural causes related to a progressive lung disease she courageously fought and endured the past six years. The youngest of three siblings, she was born June 26, 1944 in Middleton to Rev. Edward T. and Alice (Graser) Reiff. Cis graduated Grafton High School in 1962, where she was active in Girls Athletic Assn. and 4-H. She received a BS degree in education from Oshkosh State University, where she was a charter member of Alpha Phi sorority, leading to lifetime supportive friendships and sisterhood reunions. At OSU, Cis was also active in intramural and women's sports, initiating her desire to teach girls physical education.

Cis's first teaching job was in elementary physical education in West Allis. After an 11-week tour of Europe the following summer with two sorority sisters, she taught girls physical education at Burleigh Junior High in Brookfield. During this time, Cis met her future husband, Don, who lived in the same apartment building, prophetically on Lovers Lane Rd. in Milwaukee! They were married in Neenah, on August 7, 1971. After Don accepted the first of his banking job transfers with The Marine Corporation, to Beaver Dam, Cis taught high school girls' physical education in nearby Waupun. While there, Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 was enacted, ensuring equal opportunity for girls in all facets of education, including sports. Cis became one of the original girls' varsity sports coaches. At Waupun H.S. she was a successful head (and only) coach of its first girls' volleyball, basketball, softball and track and field teams, not for the $100 total compensation, but for the opportunity, challenge and love of girls' sports.

When Cis and Don's first of three sons were born, she became a stay-at-home mom. When their last son started Neenah High School, Cis began substitute teaching there, followed by Oconto Falls, where she also coached girls' varsity golf, and finally Rhinelander, where she retired from teaching in 2009. Throughout her career, Cis was a dedicated teacher and coach, well-liked by her students and players, whom often sought her counsel, as well as by fellow faculty members. She was a leader and active member of many organizations in the communities she lived in during Don's banking career. They included charitable, educational, athletic, social and ELCA church congregations. Cis was especially fond and proud of her involvement in the Neenah-Menasha Emergency Society while in Neenah.

During her lifetime, Cis had a passion for golf, having learned it from her father at age 12. She was a student of the game, continually learning, from articles, videos and frequent practice, and became very proficient at it. She founded and for many years led a junior golf program at North Shore Golf Club in Menasha, and won a women's championship there, as well as women's championships at River Island Golf Course in Oconto Falls and Northwood Golf Club in Rhinelander. Her determination kept her playing, with her lifetime golf partner Don, even after contracting her lung disease, until at age 79 she reluctantly stopped when no longer physically able. While raising a family, Cis kept up with Don and her sons on fishing, camping and canoe trips in Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, Minnesota's Boundary Waters and Canada. In retirement, Cis and Don enjoyed long-awaited travel, especially cruises and a memorable Tanzanian safari. Together, they saw all 50 states, 42 national parks and over 20 countries on five continents. In recent years, they spent their winters with friends in Green Valley, Ariz.

Cis was a unique woman who easily and quickly connected with anyone she met. Through her lifetime of volunteerism, generosity and humor she touched many lives in positive ways. Cis was an incredible wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, cook, teacher, mentor and friend. Her passing will leave an empty sadness, but many loving memories in the lives of her three sons and their wives, all of whom she was extremely proud, her six grandchildren, whom she adored, and especially Don, whom she was very supportive of throughout the location moves during his banking career. She liked to use the phrase “new job, new house, new baby,” which happened to her three times! Cis will be greatly missed, but long remembered, by all who knew her.

Cis was preceded in death by her parents, brother David Reiff and his wife Sara, and brother-in-law Greg Haines. She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Don, sons Brock (Lynette, children Mikayla and Malia), Derek (Meagan, children Catherine and Benjamin) and Ross (Stephanie, children Sloane and Reese), sister Mary Wessel (Dr. Gilbert), brother-in-law David (Krisan) Baker, sister-in-law Karen Haines, and sister-in-law Kathy (Dean) Tappa, and nieces, nephews and cousins.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, July 8 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 235 N. Stevens St., Rhinelander, with a funeral service immediately following. A private graveside service will be held at Wanderers Rest Cemetery, Gillett. In lieu of flowers, in honor of Cis, please consider a donation to the Rhinelander Area Food Pantry or the Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing. You may leave your private condolences for the Baker family at www.carlsonfh.com. The Carlson Funeral Home, 715-369-1414, is serving the Baker family.