Roger Backhaus

Roger Backhaus, 74, of Manly, Iowa, died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016, at home.

A funeral service for Roger will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, at Bethel United Methodist Church, 403 East South Street, Manly, with Pastor Don Preston officiating. Burial will be in the Manly Cemetery following the service.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at the church.

The family would like to suggest that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the ALS Association, Bethel United Methodist Church in Manly, or Hospice of North Iowa in Roger’s memory.

Roger Eugene Backhaus was born on Oct. 7, 1942, in Mason City, Iowa, the son of Harry Backhaus and Ruth (Craig) Backhaus. Roger was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Evangelical and Reformed Church in Manly. He attended Manly school until the consolidation of North Central and was the first class to graduate in 1960.

Roger was united in marriage to Donna Dixon on Dec. 6, 1964 at Bethel United Methodist Church, Manly, by the Reverend Harold Dellit. To this union two children were born, Connie and Craig. After their marriage, they farmed together and in January of 1976 they moved to the family farm. Roger loved his life as a farmer and was very honored when the family farm became a century farm in 1990. He enjoyed fixing up his Super M tractor that his dad had bought new back in 1953.

Roger was an active member of the Bethel United Methodist Church, serving as a trustee and member of the financial committee. He also proudly served on the Worth County Fair Board for 26 years, as well as, the Worth County Co-op Oil Board and the North Central School Board.

His grandchildren were the absolute light of his life. He enjoyed teasing them with his sense of humor, which gave him great joy. His family meant the world to him and he loved to be with them every chance he got.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Donna Backhaus, of Manly; daughter, Connie Moretz and her husband, Paul, of Manly; son, Craig Backhaus and his wife, Lisa, of Clear Lake; four grandchildren, Matt Moretz, of Manly, Paige Backhaus, and her fiancé, Luke Wolf, of Clear Lake, McKenna Backhaus and Carter Backhaus, of Clear Lake; three step-granddaughters, Natalie Moretz, of Chicago, Ill., Andrea Moretz, of Austin, Texas, and Stefanie Moretz, of Dade City, Fla.; sister, Donna Tyrrell, and her husband, O’Brien, of Northwood, Iowa; as well as a brother-in-law, Larry Dixon and his wife, Sharon, of Mason City; and a sister-in-law, Pat Dixon, of Mason City. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Roger was preceded in death by an infant brother, Glen Alan; his parents, Harry and Ruth Backhaus; father and mother-in-law, Harold and Pearl Dixon; and his brother-in-law, Harold Glenn Dixon.

Bride Colonial Chapel, Manly, was in charge of arrangements.