Backen, Edwin F. 1914-1972

BACKEN, WIESE, SHADDEN, NEKOLA, ERLEWINE, REEDER, MANATT, VAIL

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 2/18/2010 at 10:44:42

RITES HELD FOR EDWIN BACKEN

Funeral services for Edwin F. Backen, 58, a well-known Tama County farmer, were held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at St. John's Lutheran Church south of Tama, with the Rev. Harold Tegimeier officiating. A public prayer service was held at the Mason-Hand Funeral Home at 7 p.m. Thursday. Burial was in Maple Grove Cemetery, rural Tama.

Mr. Backen suffered a fatal heart attack Tuesday while sorting and loading hogs at the Tamacraft Farms, Inc. which he had farmed four miles south of Tama.

The son of John and Minnie Wiese Backen, he was born in Tama County July 11, 1914. He received his education in the rural schools.

He was married to Geneva Shadden of Tama Dec. 24, 1935. The couple lived on the present farm their entire married lives.

Mr. Backen was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, the Tama County Farm Bureau, and was the secretary of the Maple Grove Cemetery Association.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, and a sister. Survivors include his wife, three children, Mrs. Robert (Mary Jane) Nekola of Gilman, Kenneth Backen of Des Moines and Mrs. James (Doris) Erlewine of Marshalltown; eight grandchildren; four sisters, Mrs. Bert (Clara) Reeder of Tama, Frieda Backen and Mrs. Ruth Manatt, both of Brooklyn, and Mrs. David (Irma) Vail of Albany, Ore.; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial in Mr. Backen's name has been established with the Heart Fund and St. John's Lutheran Church.