In Memory of Alden W. Backhaus

Alden W. Backhaus, age 93, passed away Thursday, November 22, 2018 in Lawrence, Kansas.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Rev. Richard A. Salcido will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Ida Grove Cemetery of Ida Grove, Iowa with Military Rites conducted by the McNamara-Moore Post No. 61 of the American Legion, of Ida Grove, Iowa. A Visitation will be held one-hour prior to the service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. The Christensen - Van Houten Funeral Home of Ida Grove, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Alden Wayne Backhaus was born November 22, 1925, in Ida Grove, Iowa to Alfred and Louise (Paulsen) Backhaus. He attended country school and Ida Grove High School, and later joined the U.S. Army in 1945. He served in the South Pacific during WWII in Okinawa, Japan. He was discharged in 1946 and came home to farm with his brother Edwin Backhaus.   

He married Beverly Morgan in 1957 and lived on the family farm south of Ida Grove, Iowa, where they were blessed with their three children, Kerri, Brian and Robert. 

He was a lifetime member of St. Paul Lutheran Church of Ida Grove, Iowa. Alden was a grain and cattle farmer. He enjoyed the planting and harvesting seasons as well as attending livestock auctions. He was interested in cars and had several different kinds during his lifetime. Dancing and playing cards with family and friends were some of his favorite pastimes.  He also liked to hunt and bring home a pheasant for Beverly to cook in beer. 

Alden and Beverly enjoyed many trips around the country, visiting with family and friends. He was active in the American Legion Post 61 and participated in parades riding on the Iwo Jima float. After his retirement in 1996, he spent his days reading and puttering around the farm on his ATV.  In July 2014 they left the farm and relocated in Lawrence, Kansas to be near Beverly’s brother and sister-in-law Doug and Pam Morgan and their families.      

Survivors are his wife Beverly and children; daughter Kerri of Glenwood, IA, sons Brian (Samira) of Sacramento, CA, Robert (Kimiko) of Brentwood, TN; grandchildren Jack (special friend Nicole), Joe (Alyson), Andrew (Sara), and step granddaughter Ally Watt; great grandchildren Izaiah, Emily and Connor Backhaus; brother Charles (Donna) of Altamonte Springs, FL; brother Douglas and sister-in-law Pamela Morgan of Lawrence, KS; sisters-in-law Juanita Johnson of Holstein, IA and Claire (Robert) Smythe of West Palm Beach, FL; along with many nieces and nephews. 

Deceased are his parents Alfred and Louise; sisters Enid (Ferguson), Junid (Guess), and Barbara; brothers Edwin and Philip.