Gordon Wakeman

Funeral services for Gordon Wakeman, 75, Baldwin City, will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the First United Methodist Church in Baldwin City. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery. Mr. Wakeman died March 19, 2010, in Lawrence.
He was born Sept. 26, 1934, in Wathena, the son of Gladys L. (Gillilan) and Norris V. Wakeman. He graduated from Wathena High School in 1952 and then attended Kansas State College on a baseball scholarship until he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving from 1953-56. He returned to college and graduated from the re-named Kansas State University in 1959.
After beginning his coaching and teaching career, he attended Emporia State University and earned a master’s degree in administration. Mr. Wakeman was principal at Baldwin High School from 1973 to 1986. He then became director of buildings and grounds, as well as athletic director, until his retirement in 1996.
He married Marilyn Jane “Sandy” Santner on May 31, 1959, in the Danforth Chapel on the KSU campus, which was the day of their graduation. She preceded him in death on Nov. 16, 2002.
He was a member of Baldwin First United Methodist Church, a KSU Alumni Assoc. life member, National Assoc. of Secondary School Principals, the Kansas Assoc. of Supervision and Curriculum Development, Phi Delta Kappa and Rotary International.
Survivors include a son, Eric Wakeman and wife Kathy Lee, Stillwater, Minn.; three daughters, Laura Schmidt and husband Terry, Lawrence, Shelly Wakeman, Lawrence, and Julie Wakeman and husband Mike Niemann, Shawnee; a sister, Betty Louise Moore and husband Robert, Caney; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife and three brothers, William, Charles and Gregg.
Visitation will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday at Lamb-Roberts Funeral Home, Baldwin City. Memorial contributions can be made to the Douglas County Visiting Nurses Association/Hospice or the First UMC and sent in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 64, Baldwin City, KS 66006. Online condolences can be made at www.lambroberts.com.