Obituary of Arthur Back

Arthur LaVerne Back, the son of Peter and Goldie (Gifford) Back, was born on September 17, 1938 in Macon, MO. He lived his formative years in Missouri, and moved to the Hartley, Iowa, area with his parents at the age of seven. Arthur attended Grade School in Moneta and later Hartley Public School graduating in 1956. On October 24, 1959, Art was united in marriage to Marjorie Jean Berry in Hartley, IA. The couple farmed south of Hartley, and then moved to Marjorie’s parents’ farm in Center Township southwest of Hartley where they farmed until their retirement in 2003. They’ve made their home in Hartley since that time. Art was a member of the Hartley United Methodist Church. He once served as a Center Township clerk, and a township trustee for Omega Township. He was a 32nd degree Mason, and was active in both the Masonic Lodge and the Abu Bekr Shrine; he was also a Boy Scout Counselor from 1979 to 1986. Art’s grandkids held a very special place in his heart. He enjoyed collecting coins, toy tractors and Classic Cars that he loved to drive in parades with his grandkids. Survivors include his wife, Marjorie; his children: Suzann (Dan) Fieseler of Lexington, KY, Colleen (Donald) Bobzien of Hartley, IA, Elizabeth Harkness of Hawarden, IA, and Michael Back of Primghar, IA; eight grandchildren: Nichole (Ben) Shafer, Mandy (John) Garrison, Amber (James) Courtney, Jeremy Bobzien, Amanda Bobzien, Kelsey Harkness, Matthew Back and Clairissa Back; three great-grandchildren: Makayla Courtney, Anthony Courtney, and Nathan Garrison; three brothers: Peter (RuthAnn) of Hartley, IA, Bob (Mary) of Sutherland, IA, and Larry (Julie) of Hartley, IA; one sister, Patricia (Bill) Burrows of Forest Lake, MN; other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, David.