Clara Backes

COLUMBUS - Clara Backes, 94, of Columbus, died Tuesday, July 29, 2003, at the Columbus Community Hospital.

Services are 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Columbus with the Rev. Del Lape officiating. Burial will be St. Bonaventure Cemetery in Columbus.

Visitation will be after 4 p.m. today with a 7 p.m. vigil and will resume 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, all at the church.

McKown Funeral Home in Columbus is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Backes was born May 22, 1909, to Frank and Isabelle (Schaefer) Albracht in Lindsay. She attended St. Bernard grade school.

She married Edward T. Backes on Feb. 25, 1930, at St. Bernard. They lived and farmed near Lindsay until moving to Columbus in 1955. She worked for Dale Electronics for 20 years.

She was a member of the church, St. Theresa Sodality and St. Anthony Quilting Club. She enjoyed crocheting and quilting and made numerous afghans for wedding presents. She also enjoyed playing bingo and cards, and baking pies.

Survivors include four daughters, Joyce (Erv) Wieser, Carolyn (Ken) Cielocha, Marilyn (Bill) Haney and Joan (Bill) Kurtenbach, all of Columbus; five sons, Duane (Lois) Backes of Lindsay, Earl (Lenore) Backes of Arvada, Colo., Ken (Jane) Backes of Humphrey, Bill (Ginny) Backes of Milford and Dave Backes of Columbus; an adopted son, Donnie Wachal of Columbus; a brother, Bill (Rose Ann) Albracht of Broken Bow; four sisters, Alvina Chevrier of Fremont, Bonnie (Gene) Helmberger of Fort Morgan, Colo., Darlene Korus of Lindsay and Germaine (Ralph) Schmidt of Platte Center; 37 grandchildren and 78 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; a daughter, Sister Edna Backes; an infant son, Jackie Backes; two brothers, Alphonse Albracht and Clarence Albracht; four sisters, Helen Breidert, Mildred Dalhauser, Gertrude Faltin and Loretta Finn; and a grandson.

Memorials are suggested to donor's choice.

Remembrances may be sent to the family at www.mckownfuneralhome.com.