Alfred Baden

Alfred James Baden, known to friends as Bud and to his grandchildren as Opa, passed from this world on January 12, 2017.

Bud was born at home in Independence on September 8, 1924 to Henry and Lena (Meyer) Baden on S. 4th Street. He helped his father, uncle and grandfather with the Baden Mercantile business as a child, and completed school at Independence High School.

Bud enlisted in the US Army in 1942 and served with the 3rd Emergency Rescue Squadron, 5th Air Force as a radio and radar operator serving in the Pacific Theater. He was very proud of his service, and always thanked the Lord that he could serve his country saving lives instead of taking them.

He graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineering from Kansas State University in 1949, where he played the sousaphone in the band, and later became a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Kansas. Bud worked for Sinclair Oil Corporation (later ARCO) as an electrical engineer for 33 years, before working as a private consulting engineer. His professional assignments required working in the Algerian desert and in Alaska helping to construct the Alyeska pipeline.

Bud married Betty (Crowe) in Ardmore, OK in 1950, and through the years they made their home in Independence, Chicago, Paris and Houston before settling back in Independence, all while raising four boys.

Bud loved his hometown - it was one of his many passions to tell stories of his family history in the town to anyone who would listen. He volunteered in 1942 to help build the Independence airport, hitching rides from town and walking if he had to. Bud loved taking walks in Riverside Park, visiting the Zoo and of course the annual Neewollah celebration.

Bud was a lifelong and faithful member of the Lutheran church, and Zion Lutheran Church was his spiritual home in Independence.

Bud was a member of many organizations, including IEEE, EAA, AOPA, and the American Legion and was a life member of the VFW. He was also a lifelong enthusiast of all things that fly - real airplanes and models. Bud was known to frequent airports and convince pilots to give him rides in all kinds of airplanes. He also loved to build - his scale model Catalina, modeled after a plane from his WWII squadron, was a fixture in his home for most of his retirement, and can still be seen at the Kansas Aviation Museum in Wichita.

Bud carried cards in his pocket to hand out to friends and acquaintances that simply stated his interests - Planes, Trains and The Lord.

Bud was preceded in death by wife Betty in 1989. He was also preceded in death by his second wife Jo (Farr) in 2013, whom he married after Betty's passing.

He is survived by his sister, Virginia Bredehoft, and brother Harold (wife Bette), four sons, Al (Barbara), Randy (Nancy), Andy (Kay) and Pete (Monica), eight grandchildren Joel (Kate), Tessa, Zach, Josh, Abby, Matt, Noah, Sarah and great granddaughter Della Ann, and two step grandchildren and six step great grandchildren.

Bud is also survived by a wonderful family by marriage: step children Shauna, Lynwood (Patti), Jay (Patricia), and Debbi (Stacy), 14 step grandchildren and three step great grandchildren.

Services will be held at Zion Lutheran Church on Saturday, February 4th at 10 a.m. Memorials may be made to the Zion Lutheran School or to The Independence Historical Museum.

Isaiah 40:31 - But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

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