Memorials › Gordon Francis Backer

Gordon Francis Backer

5 Jan 1928 – 9 Aug 2019

Birth5 Jan 1928
Death9 Aug 2019
CemeteryGrand Island Cemetery
Grand Island , Hall County , Nebraska , USA
Added byGLG on 10 Aug 2019
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/202017000

Bio

Gordon Francis Backer, died on August 9th at the Norfolk Veterans Home. A graveside service will be held Tuesday, August 13, 2019 at 9am, at Grand Island City Cemetery. All Faiths Funeral Home is serving the family. Born in Randolph, NE to Fred and Alice (Lewis) Backer on January 5, 1928. He attended school in Randolph, graduating in 1946. He proudly served in the US Air Force from 1946-1947, being stationed in Okinawa. Gordon worked for Kansas Nebraska Natural Gas Company in Hastings, North Platte and Grand Island. He worked for Nebraska Nurseries in Lincoln, then for Tilley's Nursery and Grand Island City Utilities Department before starting Backer Nursery in 1962, which he owned and operated until retiring in 2004. He married Betty Janzen on March 31, 1956 in Aurora, NE. Gordon served as Hall County chairman of Bluebirds Across Nebraska, an organization devoted to returning bluebirds to their natural habitat by placing and maintaining nesting boxes across the state. He also served as a volunteer at Crane Meadows Nature Center. Some of his other interests included, watching and attending sporting events, especially those involving his grandchildren. He enjoyed polka dancing, hunting, fishing, wood carving, and spending time with his cat, Callie. Gordon is survived by his son Thomas (Jody) Backer of Grand Island; grandchildren Kayla (Dustin) Hasselmann of Grand Island, Nathan Backer of Stilwell, KS; great grandchildren Lillian, Ashton, Bentyn, and Hudstyn Hasselmann; sister, Evelyn Bonge of Norfolk, NE; and his former wife, Betty Backer of Grand Island. He was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters, Virginia Fenchak and Betty Schultz.

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