Doug Backhaus

Douglas Ray, son of Wallace Bud' and Dolores (Stoelk) Backhaus, was born December 10, 1944 at Harlan, Iowa. He grew up on the family farm southwest of Manilla in Shelby County. Doug attended Manilla Schools, graduating in 1963. He worked in Harlan and on the home farm until he entered the United States Navy in January of 1966. Doug served in Vietnam with the MCB Four and was awarded the Purple Heart. After his honorable discharge in 1968, he returned to Iowa and farmed with his father. On November 8, 1969 Doug was united in marriage with Marilyn Sievertsen at Denison. They lived and farmed on the home place where they raised their five children. Early in their marriage Doug earned a certificate in Farm Management from Western Iowa Technical Community College. Doug's passion was farming, raising crops and working with cattle and horses. He won many honors with his horse Mike and served as president of the Manilla Saddle Club. In his spare time he enjoyed hunting and fishing and was an avid Green Bay Packers fan. In addition, when his daughter Jamie attended the University of Iowa he became a Hawkeye football fan. One of the highlights of his life was the gift from his son of tickets to the Packers and Vikings game on Christmas Eve. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Manning and American Legion in Manilla. Doug supported his children and grandchildren in all of their sporting events and his daughters and granddaughters in their dance recitals. After his retirement from his own farm in April of 1999, he and Marilyn moved into Manilla. Doug continued to work at farming with Roger Ahrenholtz. He wanted to be on a tractor in the field, especially during harvest. Doug had suffered a lengthy bout of heart problems over the past 8 - 9 years. He started to feel ill while giving his wife and grandson a tractor ride on Saturday, October 26, 2013. They were able to get him to the hospital in Harlan where he died in the emergency room late that afternoon. Doug was 68 years, 10 months and 16 days of age. Preceding him in death are his parents. Doug is survived by his wife Marilyn Backhaus of Manilla; five children: Todd (Nicole) Backhaus of Spirit Lake; David (Sue) Backhaus of Waseca, MN; Scott Backhaus of Georgia; Sara Backhaus Welsh of Manilla and Jamie Backhaus of North Liberty; nine grandchildren: Logan, Isabella and Ethan Backhaus; Savanna Backhaus and Megan Lentz; Jillian Backhaus; Tyler, Kassidy and Tanner Welsh; three sisters Karen (Randy) Finken of Colorado, Barb (Dean) Marks of Mesa, AZ and Carolyn (Jim) Humrich of Baldwin, MO; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Casket Bearers Ron Lohrmann Roger Ahrenholz Troy Ahrenholz Kent Gruhn Keith Schwieso Stan Goetzinger Brian Finken Honorary Casket Bearers Members of Doug's U.S. Navy MCB Four Maurice Koch Gary Hartsell Gayland Buchele James Brittion Ron Pacchiana Al Duncan Randy Glumm Paul "Pete" Hayworth