Ronald Lester Backes of Guttenberg

Ronald Lester Backes, 69, of Guttenberg, Iowa, passed away Saturday, November 15, 2025, at his home. 

Visitation will be held 4-6 pm. Wednesday November 19, 2025, at Morris Funeral Home in Guttenberg, Iowa. Inurnment will be held at Dubuque Memorial Gardens Cemetery at 11a.m. on Thursday, November 20, 2025.

Ronald was born in Dubuque, Iowa, son of Lester and Helen (Loewen) Backes. He married Betty Ann Allen on November 29, 1975, and they welcomed two children, Mandy and Levi.  Their union dissolved, but they remained life-long friends and continued to share family celebrations and demonstrated beautifully how to put family first, even after divorce. 

Ron attended Clinton Community College for Electronics and then served his country for 6 years in the Marine Corps as an avionics technician.  Multiple deployments allowed him to experience different countries, which cultivated a lifelong curiosity in the world.  He was employed by National Cash Register (NCR) as a field technician and later in maintenance at Barnstead Thermolyne in Dubuque.  

Ron was an adventurous free-spirit, and he loved to spend time with family and friends.  He enjoyed history, science, and politics and he was eager to share his knowledge, stories, and conversation with others.  He was unpretentious, self-reliant, and good at troubleshooting & repairs.  He was a generous father and grandfather, willing to engage in child's play and eager to help with their ambitions and challenges.  

Ron is survived by his family: children Mandy (Harve) Ludovissy and Levi (Brandie) Backes, along with Betty (Joe) Muntz, Becky (Nathaniel) White, and Casey Muntz; grandchildren Derek, Chelsea, Jamie, Caleb, & Tyler Ludovissy and Colin, Wyatt, & Ciara Backes, along with Stacia Knipper, Abigail Noack, Breyden & Deacen Muntz; siblings Sharon Pierson, Joan Backes, Mary Bemis, Carol Brylski, Gary Backes, Laura Backes.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lester and Helen Backes, sister-in-law Marian Backes and brother-in-law Steve Bemis.  

Morris Funeral Home in Guttenberg is assisting the family and online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.