SFC (ret.) Marcel James Backes

SFC (ret.) Marcel James Backes, 48, of Hinesville departed this life unexpectedly on Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, in Celebration, Fla.
Mr. Backes was born in Cumberland, Wis., to Bernard and Andree Clare Chartrand Backes. He attended school in Clayton, Wis., and was active in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. During school breaks, he worked as a farm hand. He was baptized and confirmed in St. Ann Catholic Church in Turtle Lake, Wis.
In 1981 he entered the United States Army and served his country honorably and retired after 20 years. He separated from service at Fort Stewart and made Liberty County his home. Mr. Backes was employed as a transportation quality assurance inspector for Lockheed Martin Corp. on Fort Stewart. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, John Kasper.
He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Marsha Denise Smith Backes of Hinesville; three children, MarSha Jenice Backes, Lovell Lamont Smith Sr. and Pascal D. Backes; two grandchildren, Todd Reshawn Welch and Lovell Lamont Smith Jr.; a great-grandchild, Tanaeah Welch; his siblings, Annette Effertz of Turtle Lake, Paul (Janet) Backes of Old Hickory, Tenn., Colette Kasper of Turtle Lake, Celeste Nelson of Hudson, Wis., Yvonne (Richard) Gurney of the United Kingdom and Gregory (Gina) Backes of Sun Prairie, Wis.; his mother-in-law, Charlene King of Toledo, Ohio, father-in-law, Monroe Smith II of Chicago; brothers-in-law, Michael (Nanette) Smith, Monroe Smith III, Myron (Janice) King and Otis Thomas King, all of Toledo; sisters-in-law, Diane (Vernon) Cade of Chicago; Linda Smith of Toledo, Elaine (Timothy) Green of Chicago and Debora Ann King of Toledo; 23 nieces and nephews; and 18 great-nieces and -nephews.
His memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, in the Frank V. Givens Memorial Chapel of Dorchester Funeral Home, 7842 E. Oglethorpe Hwy. in Midway with military honors.
Dorchester Funeral Home of Midway has charge of the arrangements.