Lenore Backes

Heaven gained an adventurous spirit as Lenore R. Backes, 86, of Columbus, Nebraska, passed away on January 18, 2025. She was born November 30, 1938, in Lindsay, Nebraska, to Florence Borer and Irene Albracht.

A Mass will be held on January 24, 2025, at 10:30 am at St. Isidore's Church followed by lunch in the Social Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Colorado Wildlife Federation (www.coloradowildlife.org).

Lenore married Earl Backes on June 1, 1957. She attended Holy Family School in Lindsay and built a diverse career working at Dale Electronics, Becton Dickenson, Columbus Bank, and Omaha Bank. In 1962, Lenore and Earl moved their young family to Wheat Ridge, Colorado, later moving to Findlay, Ohio in 1973, where they spent 15 years before returning to Colorado, living in both Arvada and Golden, before finally settling back in Columbus, Nebraska. Lenore spent 30 years of her professional life with H&R Block in Findlay and Schutz & Co in Arvada.

Lenore was an avid hiker and photographer, climbing volcanoes in Hawaii with The Wild Women hiking group. At ages 70 and 73 respectively, she and Earl achieved the remarkable feat of climbing Mount Elbert, Colorado's highest peak. Her love of exploration took her around the world with Earl where they enjoyed beer in Germany, sampled exotic cuisine in China and explored Mt. McKinley in Alaska from a small tourist plane.

Lenore was passionate about photography, sewing, and crafts. Her meticulous research and planning led the family on countless RV adventures throughout Colorado and across the country.

She is survived by her loving husband Earl and their three children: Diane (Kirk) Foote of Boise, ID; Gary (Renee) of Sparta, TN; and Becky (Jon) Fickenworth of Cincinnati, OH; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; Dick (Marge) Borer of Columbus; Kathy (Dave) McCauley of Phoenix, AZ; Marie (Paul) Glause of St. Paul; Jim Borer of Lincoln; Joan (Steve) Jahn of Columbus and Bonita Risk of Kimball; Brother in law Bob Zach of Humphrey. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, sisters Betty Wessel and Donna Zach, and brothers in law Jim Wessel and Ken Risk.