Steven Eric Backofen

 

Steven “Steve” Eric Backofen, 59, of Benton, Louisiana unexpectedly passed away on September 26, 2023. A memorial service for Steve will be held on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2201 Airline Drive, Bossier City, Louisiana at 2:00 p.m. A Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service. A reception will be held Immediately after the service at the Homewood Suites in Bossier City, 2015 Old Minden Road.

Steve was born in Sweetwater, Texas on February 9, 1964, to Ronald G. Backofen and Maria A. Backofen. He later lived in Michigan and Iceland before moving to Bossier City in 1974. He was a 1982 graduate of Airline High School and a 1987 graduate of Louisiana Tech University. After graduating from college, Steve returned to Bossier City and entered the hospitality business and remained a resident of Bossier City until 2001. He then moved to Scottsdale, Arizona until his return to Bossier Parish in 2012. Steve’s wife, Elaine, was also a 1982 graduate of Airline High School and they began their relationship following a love connection at their 30-year high school reunion. Elaine’s love and support allowed Steve to actively pursue the dreams that he had at this point in his life.

Steve loved his children and was extremely proud of each of their accomplishments and even more proud that they had become such wonderful people. He really enjoyed visiting and spending time with his children and grandchildren and knowing they were living happy and fulfilling lives.

Steve worked in the hospitality business for many employers over the years, but the Hilton in Bossier City was like his second home, and he considered the people there as some of his best friends.

Steve was an adventurer and had a deep love for the outdoors. He had an immense appreciation for nature and found peace and solace within it. He was always seeking to visit new places and experience new cultures to enrich his understanding of the world.  Steve was the kind of person that was always on the move and his energy level was off the charts. Anything and everything that Steve did was at top speed because he was so full of life and wanted to experience so much of it. In addition to the countless number of outdoor excursions that Steve made to the mountains of Arkansas and Arizona, he also hiked the Grand Canyon numerous times, climbed Mount Whitney (highest peak in the continental USA), and hiked many trails in the National Parks such as Yosemite, Zion, Arches, and Bryce Canyon. He followed his passion with gusto, and he fearlessly sought out to accomplish his bucket list in his later years which included climbing Mount Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Mount Blanc (Switzerland).

Steve was a friend to everyone. Once a friend, always a friend, and those who knew him loved him. He was always so unselfish and always willing to help those in need. He was always proud of what his friends and family accomplished. He was very humble and never took the spotlight, but rather shined it on others. He truly cared about people and being there for people. When his father died two years ago, he made it his responsibility to be the primary caretaker of his mother. No matter how busy he was, he made it a priority to stop by her house every day to make her breakfast and to visit her. He always made time to show up to family and friends’ events no matter how busy he was. Without needing to ask, Steve always took the lead in organizing family dinners and preparing almost everything.

Steve found happiness, not in material objects, but rather in the memories that he made with those that he loved. Whenever you started a trip or an adventure with Steve, he always showed his unbridled enthusiasm. He often expressed himself through his artistic abilities and unique clothing, which we never knew whether it was fashion-forward or fashion-reverse. Steve never conformed to what people wanted him to be but rather sought who he wanted himself to become. He not only moved but danced to the beat of his own drum.

Steve was preceded in death by his father, Ronald G. Backofen. Left to cherish Steve’s memory are his mother, Maria A. Backofen; wife of nine years, Clara Elaine Rance Backofen; son, Zachary S. Backofen and wife Melanie; daughter,  Laken C. Mathews; grandson, Zachary D. Backofen; granddaughter, Everly J. Backofen; brothers, Mike C. Backofen and wife, Shannon, James T. Backofen and wife, Francine, Gregory S. Backofen and wife, Brandy; nephews, Jordan Backofen, Jared Backofen, and Kyle Backofen and wife, Claire; nieces, Morgan Backofen, and Megan Backofen-Jones and husband,  Noah Jones; along with numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, and other relatives in Spain. And, of course, his beloved dog Brees.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in his honor be made to the Arkansas Parks & Recreation Foundation (www.arparksfoundation.org) P.O. Box 7756 Little Rock, Arkansas 72217.