David Backes

David Peter Backes, age 71 of Greenwald, Minnesota, passed away on November 14, 2019 at the St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A private family service will be held at Camp Ripley, located near Little Falls, Minnesota. A community celebration of life “Bucky Night” will take place in Greenwald, Minnesota at Woody’s Bar & Grill in January. Date and time to be determined.

David was born on May 26, 1948 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Alberta Mary(Schleper)Backes and Cyril Anton Backes. He attended St. Andrew’s Elementary School in Greenwald, MN and graduated from Melrose High School. David served in the United States Navy, after which he returned to Greenwald, where he started his many years as a carpenter.

Just like most of the boys in his family, people knew him better as “Bucky.” David was an avid fisherman, both in winter and summer, spending many hours in the dark house on Sauk Lake, in pursuit of the giant northern pike. Known for his wild red hair (hat required at all times) and a unique sense of humor, he kept his friends and the residents of Greenwald laughing and shaking their heads.  As was quoted at Kraemer Lumber, where he worked for many years, “Bucky was one of a kind.” Most mornings found him eating breakfast with the boys at a local café. He also enjoyed working around on his small farm just outside of Greenwald.  He was a character whose presence will be truly missed.

Survivors include his siblings, Margaret Theilman (Bob) of Avon, Gary Backes (Lila) of St. Joseph, Dennis Backes (Rebecca) of Champlin, and Paul Loxtercamp (Julie) of Bemidji, Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Cyril Backes on June 6, 1958, Alberta Backes Loxtercamp on September 29, 2003, brother Nicholas Backes on August 3, 2015, and brother-in-law Robert Theilman on May 2, 2019.