Eleanor “Ellie” J. Baker (Zierfus), 84, of West Salem, passed away peacefully on Tuesday April 14, 2026.

Ellie was born in La Crosse, WI to June (Halverson) and William Zierfus on May 18, 1942.

She married her love, Phillipp Baker on August 17, 1964. Together they had 6 children. Ellie was a stay-at-home mom raising her children and also worked from home for many years employed by a button factory.

After moving into the town of West Salem in 1994, Ellie enjoyed meeting up with her neighbors and talking which she called the “evening chit chat’.” Ellie’s hobbies were gardening, cooking and canning. Anyone that had a chance to try her strawberry-rhubarb jelly loved it. In her earlier years she crocheted many afghans and would gift them to family and friends.

Ellie enjoyed the nature that visited her yard, which displayed many flower beds and bird feeders providing abundant food for butterflies and birds. She had a love for cats and would feed strays and even take them in and find them homes. When Ellie wasn’t in her yard, she loved watching game shows and doing word searches.

Eleanor is survived by her brother, Michael “Mike” Zierfus and sister, Anita Kish. Her children; Debra Zierfus, April (Doug) Freng, Penny Carlston, Daniel Baker, Wendy (John) Ebata, and Amy Baker. Many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great- great grandchildren.

Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, June and William Zierfus, her husband Phillipp Baker, brothers; Neil “Kim” Zierfus and William “Billy” Zierfus, sisters; Jean Hegge, Phylis Johnson and grandson Scott Zierfus.