Delmer Henry Backhaus, age 82 of LaCrosse and formerly of DeSoto, died Saturday, November 17, 2007 at his home at Bethany On Cass in LaCrosse. He was born on June 20, 1925 in Garnavillo, Iowa to Ernest and Georgina (Mohning) Backhaus. Following the death of his mother, his father married Evangeline (Mohning), a sister of Georgina. Delmer graduated from Garnavillo High School as valedictorian of his class. He served in the U.S. Military during the Korean Conflict and was a member of the DeSoto-Genoa American Legion Post. He married Marcella Wilke and she preceded him in death in1982. On August 27, 1983 he married Beverly (Arnold) Henkel and they lived in the DeSoto area until April of 2007 when they moved to Bethany on Cass. In addition to his wife, Beverly, he is survived by his son, Dan (Kim) Backhaus of LaCrosse; daughter, Carol Ann (Lyle) Schaal of Guttenberg, Iowa; his step-children: Harold (Penny) Henkel of DeSoto, Robert (Jan) Henkel of Lansing, Iowa, Debra (Al) Trussoni of DeSoto, and Penny (Dale) Piurkowski of Stoddard; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; one brother, Harlan Backhaus of Garnavillo, Iowa; one niece, Kathy (Tom) Moorhouse of Manchester, Iowa; and one nephew, Donald (Kayleen) Backhaus of Garnavillo, Iowa. In addition to his parents and first wife, Marcella, he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Zita Backhaus. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at the DeSoto Lutheran Church. Pastor Libby Howe will officiate with military rites following the funeral. Burial will be in the St. Paul’s Cemetery in Monona, Iowa. Friends may call on Monday from 4 – 6 p.m. at the Vosseteig-Larson Funeral Home in DeSoto. Friends may also call at the church on Tuesday after 10:00 a.m.