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

Visitation was Wednesday Nov. 19, at Morris Funeral Home in Guttenberg.

Inurnment was at Dubuque Memorial Gardens Cemetery.

Ronald was born in Dubuque, son of Lester and Helen (Loewen) Backes. He married Betty Ann Allen on Nov. 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 six 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 and 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, and Tyler Ludovissy and Colin, Wyatt, and Ciara Backes, along with Stacia Knipper, Abigail Noack, Breyden and Deacen Muntz; siblings, Sharon Pierson, Joan Backes, Mary Bemis, Carol Brylski, Gary Backes and Laura Backes.

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

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.kramer-morrisfuneralhome.com.