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John Backhus Obituary
He was born Aug. 2, 1947, to Walter and Norma Backhus, in Scribner, Neb. He attended District 24, a one-room schoolhouse, through 8th grade and graduated from high school in Scribner. He graduated from the University of Nebraska and was an alumni of Phi Beta Kappa. He received his master's degree from Embry-Riddle with a 4.0 GPA in Business Administration in Aviation.
John had a love and passion for flying airplanes. He knew when he was three years old that he was going to fly. He retired from the U.S. Air Force, after 20 years of service. He had been employed with American Airlines and later was employed for 12 years with AStar Airlines.
He loved his grandchildren, classical music, world travel, extremely avid reader of history, and tracking the Cornhuskers football seasons. He was a kind, gentle person and had a strong love of God, family, and country.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved cats.
Mr. Backhus leaves to cherish his memory, his wife of 35 years, Linda K. Backhus; his daughter, Tammy Gunther; his son-in-law, Jeff; and was 'Pop Pop' to two grandchildren who were his joy, Abigail and Quinten Gunther, all of Omaha, Neb.; five brothers, Robert and wife, Anita, of Effingham, Ill., Richard and late wife, Ruth, of Omaha, Neb., Charles and wife, Marilou, of Ocala, Fla., Kenneth of Omaha, Neb., and Danny and wife, Sue, of Charlotte, N.C.; two sisters, Mary Ann Muller and husband, Merle, of Omaha, Neb., and Janice Von Seggern and husband, Ron, of Columbus, Neb.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9, at Peninsula Funeral Home. A service will be conducted at noon Saturday at Resurrection Lutheran Church on J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News.
Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Backhus
Sponsored by The Pilots of Astar/ALPA council 17.
Abigail and Quinten Gunther
July 5, 2011
Dear Poppop,
We love and miss you very much and are sending many prayers
Love your Grandchildren,
Abigail and Quinten Gunther of Omaha,NE
Abigail and Quinten Gunther
July 5, 2011
Dear Pop-pop,
We miss you verry much and think about you alot We're sending prayers!!!
Love your Granchildren,
Annette Eugenis
November 13, 2007
Dear Linda,
As a neighbor of our daughter, we knew you a little better than John. But we saw John's kindness and love of our grandkids at Sean's graduation last summer. We send prayers for you and your family.
Fondly,
John and Annette Eugenis
Sherri Punter
November 12, 2007
Linda and Tammy,
We are so very sorry for your loss. We will miss seeing him out in the yard, his smiling face, being so excited when he was doing something so special for you, talking about his grandkids and all of his very special qualities. He was a very wonderful husband, father, grandfather and neighbor. He will be greatly missed by all of us. May God Bless you, Tammy and all of the Backhus family.
Love The Punter Family
Kim Muller
November 11, 2007
John Backhus was my mother's brother and our entire family thought he was a wonderful, funny, intelligent, and gentle person. He was a great uncle and his death is a terrible loss. Uncle John will be missed for his sense of humor, his kindness, his warm smile and his bright blue eyes. God bless you, John! We will love you and miss you always.
Van Wilshire
November 9, 2007
May God bless and keep John's family as they go through this time of loss. John was well-respected by his fellow pilots and gave a lot of friendship to a lot of people.
Ronn Walker
November 9, 2007
I enjoyed flying with John and more importantly just talking with him. It was always a pleasure to see his name on the flight release as being a part of the crew.
We will all miss him.
Earl Smith
November 9, 2007
John was always good for a laugh and a smile no matter how trying the flight and no matter how long the work day. He was one of the people that you would hope to run into during your week at work. The rumbling laugh was infectious. I'm really going to miss him.
Brian D. Slutz
November 9, 2007
I had the honor of training John as a new hire at DHL Airways and was always a pleasure to work with. He also was an excellent pilot and I will miss flying with John.
Our prayers are with John and his Family Sincerly, Brian D. Slutz
Carlos Zuniga
November 9, 2007
I met John years ago when we worked for American Eagle. John was also my classmates at DHL/ASTAR in January of 1996. John was a good friend and fellow pilot.My deepest sympathy to the Backhus family during this difficult time.
Jay Miller
November 8, 2007
John's good nature made him well liked by everyone who knew him at Astar. His exceptional skill and Professionalism made him well respected by all who flew with him.
You always knew your day was going to be a little bit easier when you saw John's name on your schedule.
John, you will be missed.
My deepest sympathy for the Backhus Family
Tim Bentzen
November 8, 2007
Linda,
My name is Tim Bentzen and I worked with John the past 11 plus years. He had a wonderful personality and was a joy to be around. He was very well thought of and will be missed.
Sincerely,
Tim Bentzen
Sergio Navarro
November 8, 2007
My sincere condolences to the Backhus family. I gave John his initial operating experience training when he first arrived at DHL Airways and also shared our crashpad in Florence KY. He will most certainly be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with him. "To fly west, my friend, is a flight we all must take for a final check"
Patty Fletcher
November 8, 2007
Tammy and Linda...I am so very sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you both during this difficult time.
Jimmy & Madonna Brannan
November 8, 2007
Linda,our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this most painful and difficult time of great loss.
Love
Hazel Jones
November 8, 2007
Dear Linda,
My heart really goes out to you at this difficult time. I know you are still in shock at John's sudden illness that took him so unexpectedly from you. I am glad that you had 35 years with your "knight in shining armour" (sorry, but that is how I always thought of John)and I know you have many wonderful memories. One of my fondest memories of John was when I was still working at the customer service booth in front of J C Penney's at Coliseum Mall. He stopped by on his way in to J C Penney's (shopping for you a little "bauble" I think)He was so happy and excited and told me that you and he were soon to celebrate your 20th anniversary! He was so proud that your marriage had reached that benchmark. I had always liked your gentle and loving husband but that day made me admire him even more. Today I admire you, knowing that for 35 years you made John that very happy man.
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