Death
29 July 2023 | Woodburn, Clarke, Iowa, United States
Nancy Louise Backhaus died on 29 July 2023, at age 70, in Woodburn, Clarke, Iowa, United States, Nancy Louise (Backhaus) Loghry was born the fourth child of five to Paul and Lora (Baringer) Backhaus in Arkansas City, Kansas. She spent her formative years in Newkirk, Oklahoma; attending Newkirk High School and Phillips University in Enid, Oklahoma. While in Des Moines, visiting friends and family in the fall of 1971, she had a chance encounter with Dennis (Denny) Loghry. They were married on May 27, 1973 in Newkirk. She gained employment with the State of Iowa and remained there until she retired in 2013 with 40 years of service. They lived in Altoona, Iowa, until they moved to the Clarke County farm in 1977. They built a house themselves on bare land northeast of Osceola and moved there in 1983, where she passed away in the arms of her husband on July 29th after a short battle with liver cancer, two months and two days after their 50th wedding anniversary.
The first acre of grapevines at Wineberry Vista was planted in 2001 and the vineyard soon grew to three acres. She was there; planting, pruning, mowing, harvesting; caring for the vines. As her health began to fail, she still felt compelled to tend to her vines and produce good wine berries. She hated to see them not properly cared for. There is an untold number of acquaintances she made over the last twenty two years in the grape and wine industry. It was seldom the wine that enthused her, but the passion of the people in the winery and the stories they told. She gave herself willingly when it came to her family, friends and those she could assist. She gave 110%. It was rare that she missed a Knights of Columbus fish fry and other benefit meals where she could help with raising funds. Nancy started planning meals for the Masonic Lodge in Woodburn three days before the meeting. Wanting to make sure any dietary restrictions were met for the brothers of her husband's lodge. Always preparing more than enough, she often said, "Is that all you brought home!" She was there on Thanksgiving to help at the Osceola First Christian Church annual dinner. Then, went home to feed the family. Providing holiday meals for her family was very important to her. And when it came to grape harvest time, many veteran pickers insisted she serve her chicken and noodles on the last harvest day. For years, she commandeered the annual Girl Scout Soup Supper. From the first potato peeled until the last crumb was swept up, she was there. She liked to feed people who liked to eat. She was an organ donor and gave away gallons of blood over the years, and spent hour after hour sewing for Days for Girls.
After a bout with breast cancer in 2011, she offered herself to an eight year trial in researching reoccurring breast cancer. She was a Girl Scout leader in Osceola and later became a service unit leader after her own daughter graduated and volunteered as the trustee for the Osceola Girl Scout House. She also spent 10 years leading a jump rope Girl Scout Troop (Central Iowa Skippers) out of Ankeny. They performed at numerous fairs and celebrations in central Iowa and she drove a van filled with teenaged girls to jump rope camps in Texas and Indiana. For many years she worked local elections as a precinct election official. All because someone asked.
Travel was one of her greatest joys. In support of Days for Girls and Blessman International, she traveled to South Africa in 2022. She has seen thirty eight states. Thirty two of which were from the back of a motorcycle. It is estimated Nancy and Denny have two wheeled over one hundred and fifty thousand miles. Rain, hail, sleet, snow, grasshoppers, wind, heat, cold, a tornado. Ball games, wine runs, fairs, small town celebrations, concerts, church, groceries, out of state suppers, and countless hotels. Mountains, deserts, rivers, plains and the Atlantic Ocean. The stories that could be told. It was just last fall, shortly after her 70th birthday, she rode to the top of Pikes Peak. Recently, it became difficult for her to climb aboard the big bike, but her determination prevailed. When the tar strips in the highway started to hurt, Denny bought an inflatable cushion for her seat. "Well worth whatever the cost," she said. Her final ride was August 9th when Denny brought her back home. Nancy was a member of the Patriot Guard Riders and proudly stood in the elements in the flag line to honor fallen heroes. When Taps was played, she always cried.
Her family was so very important to her. The competitions, concerts, and programs of her children and grandchildren she missed could be counted on one hand. They always had her support. Nancy was a supporter in every fashion of every feat of young people. She liked to see them progress and grow through the season and keep maturing over the years. And not just her immediate family; she enjoyed watching all young people compete. Whether it be baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, gymnastics, football, rodeo, or marching band. The effort they put forth was her reward; her entertainment.
In March 2023, a trip to south Florida for spring training camp allowed them to watch, either in person or on the hotel TV, sixteen baseball teams over a seven day period. Many wedding anniversaries were spent at a ball park somewhere. As far away as Albuquerque for a minor league game or as close as a softball field across the street from the hotel in whatever state they landed. It made no difference to her. Nancy was a fan of the game; whoever played. "I married a woman who likes baseball, motorcycles, and is a great cook," Denny once said. "How could I lose?"
Words cannot express Nancy's devotion to her family, her friends, her charities, or her faith. Every task she took on got her best efforts. She was a strong, independent woman who determined her path and followed it; not asking for help until she absolutely needed it. A job well done was quite often her only reward, but that was enough for her, and she never asked for more than what could be achieved. She always did what she had to do to make things work and asked for very little.
A friend like her is rare.
Family who have passed before her are her parents, bother Don Backhaus and his wife Stacie, brother- in-law Joe Yockey, daughter-in-law Amanda Loghry, and many other cherished friends and relatives.
Family who survive are husband Denny at home in rural Woodburn. Son Clint and his sons: Tanner and Tucker of rural Woodburn. Daughter Crystal Young, her husband Marvin and their children: Ethan, Caleb, Makayla and Erica of Des Moines. Brother Darrell Backhaus and wife Karen and families of Ponca City, Oklahoma. Sister Rose Mary Yockey of Moore, Oklahoma and families of Blanchard, Oklahoma, Tampa Bay, Florida and Moore, Oklahoma. Sister Loretta Lane and families of Edmond, Oklahoma. Father-in-law Dale Loghry of Osceola. And a countless number of friends and family members scattered throughout.
Nancy's family wishes to thank Dr. Thomas Buroker and his staff at Mission Cancer and Blood Center for making her last months hopeful and uplifting. Appreciation goes out to the Woodburn Fire Department, Clarke County Sheriff's Department, Clarke County EMA, the Clarke County Ambulance crew, and the staff at Clarke County Hospital for their response, their care, and their compassion. We also want to thank Kale Funeral Home for their excellent service.
Memorials may be presented to the Osceola Girl Scouts, Blessman International, Unity #212 Masonic Lodge in Woodburn, or Osceola First Christian Church. In lieu of flowers; her family asks that you plant a tree and take part in creating a forest in her memory. Please let the family know where you plant it.