Claudia "Candi" Baker, 77, of Columbus, Nebraska, died Wednesday, December 7, 2022, at Meridian Gardens in Columbus.

The family will receive friends Tuesday, December 13 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at Gass Haney Funeral Home. Formal services are being planned in Lawrence, Kansas. Memorials may be directed to Lakeview Fine Arts Department.

Claudia Albert Christiansen was born on December 7th, 1945, to Genevieve (Wallen) and Harvey Christiansen in Napa, CA. The youngest of four children: Gene, Kay, and Ginger, Claudia was nicknamed Candy because of her sweet demeanor. She later changed the spelling of this nickname to Candi.

Growing up she found a passion for dancing which she pursued throughout her formative years into adulthood. As a child she loved listening to radio music and dancing around her home in Iowa. If Candi hadn't feared childhood dental visits, her talent and passion for dance and gift of encouragement to thousands of blossoming dancers over the years may have been lost to the community.

"I'd jump and twirl on and off the couch and chairs, and dance around the floor as I dusted the furniture," she said. "I was also terrified of the dentist, so Mom promised if I'd go, she'd pay for dance lessons. Later she would say it was the most expensive dentist bill ever."

From her first class, at age 12, she was hooked. After graduating from Central High School in Sioux City, Candi attended Iowa State University. Despite spending most of her time in the dance studio, she graduated with a bachelor's degree in English with minors in math and dance in 1968.

While at Iowa State she met the love of her life, Paul. After a quick courtship, Paul and Candi decided to tie the knot and even though it was fast, they both were determined to make this decision the right decision. After Iowa State, the couple packed up and moved to California.

While Paul completed his MBA, Candi taught seventh-grade English, took innumerable master dance classes and studied with various inspirational San Francisco dance artists. In 1971, she graduated from Mills College, Oakland, with a master's in dance and, after the birth of two daughters, opened and ran a dance movement studio in Burlingame, California.

When Paul was offered a job opportunity in Lawrence, Kansas, shortly after her father's death, they decided to move closer to family. Candi established herself at the Lawrence Arts Center by creating their dance program, teaching 10 dance classes in 1984, becoming education director in 1985, and starting the touring modern dance company Prairie Wind Dancers in 1987, with which she performed and toured all over the Midwest.

As the dance program director, Candi worked closely with the center's executive director and the education, theater, and exhibition staff members to provide the best dance program possible. Candi always said, "Dance is a way of expressing dreams, ideas and hope through the human body and emotion." Her biggest joy over the years was watching the little ones grow into wonderful dancers by the time they go on to college and beyond.

After retiring in 2013, she pursued her passion of creating quilts and doting on her three grandchildren: Elizabeth (Lilly), Katherine (Katie), and Michael (M3). In 2020, Paul and Candi made the decision to move closer to their grandchildren in Columbus. where she enjoyed doing puzzles, playing games with her family, watching the kid's sports games and eating ice cream. She lived in Columbus until she passed peacefully on December 7, 2022, her 77th birthday.

Candi is survived by:
Husband - Paul Baker of Columbus, NE
Daughter - Chanda Baker of Kansas City, MO
Daughter - Danika (Mike, JR.) Rowe of Columbus, NE
Grandchildren - Lilly, Katie, and Michael III Rowe all of Columbus, NE
Siblings - Gene, Kay, and Ginger

Candi was preceded in death by:
Parents - Harvey and Genevieve Christiansen