Robert Baden
After a three year battle with cancer, Robert Baden went to meet his Lord
on December 29, 2000. He was 64 years old. He is survived by his two brothers,
Thomas and Donald, his wife, Marian, and his four children, Brent Baden
(Long Beach, CA), Brenda Baden Smith (Cordillera, CO), Daniel Baden (Atlanta,
GA), and Corwin Baden (Taipei, Taiwan). His family now extends to eight
grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Bob began his teaching career at Concordia High School in Seward, Nebraska, coaching and teaching English. His basketball and baseball teams won several State championships, certainly a very exciting time. After eight years at Concordia High School, Bob moved to the Nebraska State Department of Education where he served as the English curriculum consultant for Nebraska. During that period he completed his Ph.D. in English at the University of Nebraska. Three years later, he was back at Concordia, Seward, this time at the college level, once again coaching basketball and teaching English. In May of 1980, Bob was named Teacher of the Year at Concordia, the first to receive this honor. Shortly thereafter, the Lord called Bob to Christ College in Irvine, California, a fledgling institution at that time. There he served for twenty years as Professor of English, Dean of Arts and Sciences, Dean of Christ College, and Executive Vice President of the University now known as Concordia Irvine. Bob retired in 1999. Golf, travel, and collecting and selling vintage children’s books online gave him much pleasure throughout his life.
A prolific writer, Bob touched many lives with his numerous articles, religion curriculum materials, poetry, hymn verses, and books for children and teens. These include ten Arch books (rhyming Bible stories for young children), My Book About Life in Jesus’ Time, Teen Talks with God, How to Understand Your Parents and Maybe Like the Ones You Love, and Y Domingo Siete (And Sunday Makes Seven). His last book, Psalms for Kids, was published after his death, as well as his article “Razing Hell” which was featured on the cover of the Lutheran Witness in the spring of 2001.
(thanks to Marian Baden)