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Calvin ‘Cal’ Backer

Calvin ‘Cal’ Backer

NEW ULM — Calvin “Cal” Backer, 92, of New Ulm died Friday, July 7, 2017 at the New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm with Pastor David Nissen officiating. Burial will be in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery. Full military honors will be conducted at the cemetery by the New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor Honor Guard.

Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, SOUTH CHAPEL, in New Ulm and will continue for one hour prior to the time of service at the church on Tuesday. To leave an online condolence for his family or to sign the guestbook go to: www.mvfh.org.

Calvin E. Backer was born to Elmer and Vera (Mueller) Backer on April 22, 1925 in New Ulm. He attended the New Ulm Public Schools and graduated in 1943. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the US Navy. He served in WWII and was discharged on his birthday in 1946. He attended Carleton College and the University of Minnesota. He married Carol Esser of Morris in 1947. After the death of his first wife, he married Kathleen (Cordes) Juni in 1998.

He managed the Backer Drug Store and owned and operated Backer’s Bar. He worked in circulation departments of the New Ulm Journal and the Mankato Free Press. He was active in youth baseball and basketball activities, inducted into Legion Baseball Hall of Fame, Lifetime Member Chamber of Commerce, served on many civic organizations including: NU Chamber committees, Cub Scout Master, NU Country Club Board, NU Baseball Board, Junior Baseball Board, American Legion Baseball Board, Brown County Fair Board, Rotary Club, NU Safety Council, Junior Pioneers member, Brown County Humane Society volunteer, Meals on Wheels, New Ulm Club, and past president of the Northwest Circulation Managers Association. He was very proud of being on the American Legion baseball team that won the state tournament in 1941. Backer took great pride in being a WWII Veteran and being on the cruiser, The Chicago, in Tokyo Bay during the signing of the Treaty.

He is survived by wife Kathleen; daughters Mary (Tom) Conroy of New Ulm, Cathy (Jim) Paulson of Shakopee, and Nancy (John) Genelin of New Ulm; sons Doug (Vickie) Backer of Rosemount, Tom of New Ulm, Scott of Chatfield, Dan (Jeanine) of New Ulm and Jay (Jenny) of New Ulm; stepdaughter Michele (Jim) Seifert of New Ulm and stepsons Jeff (Ellen) Juni of New Ulm and Dan (Sandra) Juni of Kentucky; 29 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 8 stepgrandchildren, 2 stepgreat-grandchildren; 1 nephew and 1 niece. Backer was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Carol and two sisters, Betty Fisher and Lois Korth.

Calvin was proud of his family, loved life, adored dogs, enjoyed sports, took pride in being a prankster and according to him “lived and died by the sword.” Memorials to Brown County Humane Society, Turner Hall or donor’s choice.

www.mvfh.org

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