MELVIN BACKS

LOCKWOOD- Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Immanuel Lutheran Church for Melvin Cleo Backs, 90, Lockwood, who died Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, at Good Shepherd Community Care and Rehabilitation Facility. Burial will follow in the Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery at Meinert.

The family will receive friends on Thursday evening, Feb. 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Lockwood Funeral Chapel.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Immanuel Lutheran Church or to the Good Shepherd Community Care and Rehabilitation Facility.

Online condolences may be shared at www.greenfieldfuneralchapel.com.

Survivors include two sons, Norman Backs and Stanley Backs, both of Lockwood; one daughter, Deanna Cross and husband Eric, Oak Grove; a sister-in-law, Florence McKinley; six grandchildren, Katelyn Backs, Emily Backs, Ethan Cross, Ryan Cross, Melynda Cross and Addison Cross; one nephew, Howard Kremer; three nieces, Kaye Severns, Ginger Donohue and Jo McClure and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Evelyn Kremer.

Mr. Backs was born March 26, 1928, in Lockwood, to Fred and Stella (Brinkhoff) Backs. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church in Meinert, where he also attended elementary school. He was a 1946 graduate of Lockwood High School. He was a lifetime dairy farmer and a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church.

He married Helen Jean Kelley on Aug. 18, 1956, in Springfield. She preceded him in death.