Monday, November 27, 2006

Aug. 20, 1927 - Nov. 23, 2006

Bob Keith Backer 79, died Thursday (Nov. 23, 2006) at Community Hospital in McCook.

He was born Aug. 20, 1927, in Belvidere, to Cyril Venard and Hazel Merl (Whitaker) Backer.

He graduated from Fairbury High School in 1945, Fairbury Jr. College and then University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 1950. He earned his Master's Degree in Administration in 1958. He taught math in McCook one year and then moved to Lincoln to teach one year before returning to McCook. He spent the rest of his career in McCook Public Schools. He spent 37 years as a teacher and principal in the McCook school system, retiring in 1987.

He married Elva Pleis in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Dec. 29, 1946. They moved to McCook in 1950. She died Aug. 6, 2000.

He was a member of the Memorial United Methodist Church and McCook Elks Lodge No. 1434.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Elva; one sister, Zoe Marie Daughty; and a brother, Cyril Backer Jr.

Survivors include three sons, David and wife, Lori Backer of Boise, Idaho, Rex Backer of Hershey and Fred and wife, Jane Backer of McCook; a daughter, Jody and husband, Richie Crocker of McCook; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Memorial services will be Tuesday, 11 a.m. at Carpenter Breland Funeral Home with Jerry Beckenhauer officiating.­­­­­­­­­ Inurnment will be a private family service in Memorial Park Cemetery at a later time.