Christian Back

Christian Marinus Back, 89, Red Wing, died Thursday, October 16, 2008 at his residence. He was born August 30, 1919, in Hendricks, Minnesota, the son of Olga and Christian Back. He attended rural schools and graduated from High School in Astoria, South Dakota. He served in the U. S. Army Air Corps 1941 � 1945 during WW II. He attended Brookings State College and graduated with a degree in Agriculture in 1950. In 1954 he attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis. He married Hazel Hanson on June 4, 1955 in Glenham, South Dakota. He was an Adult Agriculture Instructor in Lakeville, Minn., taught in North Dakota for three years, Pipestone, Minn. for six years, again in North Dakota for two years, Staples, Minn. for six years and in Goodhue for 12 years, retiring in 1981. He then taught Industrial Arts in Tokyo, Japan for two years at the Christian Academy. He was a member of First Covenant Church and as a member of the Gideons he did prison ministry and led Bible Studies at nursing homes every Saturday. He enjoyed fixing cars, doing carpentry work, and serving those in need.

Survivors include his wife, Hazel of Red Wing; five children: Bradley Back of Minnetonka, Barbara (Robert) Owsley of China, Brian Back of Red Wing, Barry (Laura) Back of Albert Lea, Minn., and Bev (Dave) Schneider of Westcliffe, Colo.; thirteen grandchildren; one sister, Sylvia Broadbent of Brookings, SD; and one brother, Donald (Dorothy) Back of Payson, Ariz.. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Paul and Harlan Back and one grandchild, Joseph Owsley.

Funeral will be 2 p. m. Saturday at First Covenant Church with Reverend Tim Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Benjamin, Jonathan, Nathaniel Back, David and Joseph Back, and Samuel and Johannes Schneider. Honorary pallbearers will be Luke and Caleb Owsley. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and for one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Memorials are preferred to the Gideons International.