Alfred G. "Porky" Backes

October 25, 1929 – August 9, 2012 Funeral services celebrating the life of Alfred George “Porky” Backes, age 82 will be 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 13, 2012 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, MN. Porky passed away peacefully in his sleep of natural causes. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Parish Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Sunday, August 12th at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring. Parish Prayers will be at 4:00 p.m., followed by a rosary with the Catholic Order of Foresters. Visitation will continue from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Monday morning in the St. Boniface Church Narthex. He was born at the family farm in Cold Spring, MN to Joseph and Secunda Backes. Porky married Donat Elizabeth Dold on June 1, 1953 in Richmond, MN. He was a dedicated, hard working farmer and continued to reside at the farm, just outside of town until his death. Porky also was an agent and board member for Wakefield /Mid Minnesota Mutual Insurance Company and a board member for the Re -Insurance Association of Minnesota until his retirement. He served in the Army during the Korean Conflict with the military police. Porky was proud of his service to our country and the many children and grandchildren who chose to follow in his footsteps by serving in the military. He was a member of the American Legion, Veteran of Foreign Wars, serving as an officer for many years, the Korean Last Man’s Club, the Catholic Order of Foresters and Sportsman’s Club. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, feeding and watching the wildlife out his back window and above all, spending time with his family. He is survived by Donat, his loving wife of 59 years; children, Michelle (Jon), Mark (Peggy), Gary (LeeAnn), Diane (Chip), and Nic (Missy); grandchildren, Mike, Nic, Chad, Amanda, Nicole, Teresa, Jon, Evan, Emily, Ben, Maddie, and Abby; 9 great-grandchildren; sister, Marilyn Sayles; brothers, Dave and Joe. Porky lived a full and rich life, committed to God, family and country. He will be remembered by his wife, children and grandchildren as a loving, gentle and kind husband, father and granddad. Like so many of his generation, he was a hard-working, generous, dedicated, “great guy”, who went about his responsibilities, caring for and supporting his family, friends and community. He believed in the strength of family and showed his love for them until his final day. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers: Pierre, Carl, Jim and Bob.