On October 19, 2024, David (Dave) John Backes, age 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. Funeral services celebrating Dave’s life will be at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 29th at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin, Minn. Visitation will precede the Mass from 9-11 a.m.
Dave was born to Joseph and Secunda Backes on March 11, 1932, on the family farm in Cold Spring, Minn. Dave was one of seven boys and a sister who worked on the farm. He graduated from St. Boniface High School in 1950. A lifelong passion for baking began when he was a teenager, working for the Cold Spring Bakery.
He enlisted in the Navy in 1951 and proudly served his country until being honorably discharged in 1955. Dave was proud of his family’s representation in the U.S. military as all six of his brothers served. Every Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day, Dave displayed 19 American flags, each representing serving and formerly serving military family members.
Upon his return from the Navy, Dave enrolled in Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis to formally study baking.
On May 5, 1956, Dave married Margaret Kinzer and celebrated 68 years together until Margaret’s passing in June 2024. The couple lived for brief periods in Davenport, Iowa, and in Austin, Minn., before settling in Dassel, Minn., in 1958 when they purchased the Dassel Bakery and Coffee Bar which they operated as a family business for more than 20 years.
After selling the bakery, Dave sold insurance until purchasing a restaurant and naming it Dave’s Cafe. His children and Margaret helped Dave successfully operate the cafe until it was sold in 1979. Dave went back to baking for Bernie’s Fairway in Litchfield, Minn., until he retired in 1994.
Dave believed in giving back to the community, and volunteered in several organizations including serving 50 years with the Dassel Fire Department and 50 years with the American Legion. Dave was a fixture for many years at the Dassel Lakeside Nursing Home, where he provided companionship, support and home baked cookies and donuts for residents and staff. He also volunteered at Dassel Red Rooster Days and was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, and held numerous roles at St. John’s Catholic Church. Dave was recognized for his outstanding volunteer efforts with a WCCO Good Neighbor award, Minneapolis Aquatennial Commodore award, and the New Ulm Diocese Bishop’s Medal of Service, and by the American Red Cross for donating blood. In 2017, Dave successfully led efforts to install a handicapped accessible fishing pier on Spring Lake.
Dave is survived by his five children: Carol (Linden) Hermel, David (Sue) Backes, Mary (Bill) Yackley, Elizabeth (Wayne) Herberg, and Joseph (Cari) Backes, and his 13 grandchildren: Jermey, Melissa, John, Garrett, Stephanie, Andrew, Grant, Heather, Austin, Samantha, Madelyn, Elena and Samuel as well as 13 great-grandchildren: Valerie, Maisie, Devin, Marlo, Lily, Evie, James, Isaac, Ryleigh, Logan, Amelia, Lauren and Russell (with two more on the way) and two great-great grandchildren: Lana and Casey; his sister Marilyn Sayles and two sisters-in-law, along with many nephews and nieces and numerous friends.
Memorials are preferred: BirthRight of Hutchinson (MN); St. Joseph Indian School (SD) or Sharing and Caring Hands (MN).
