BEALS – Herman “Junior” Backman Jr., 82, went home to be with the Lord Friday, Nov. 25, 2005. He was born Nov. 20, 1923, in Jonesport, the son of Herman and Estelle (Church) Backman Sr. Junior was a graduate of Beals High School, Class of 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard in 1943 and served 27 months in Puerto Rico during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Junior built his first boat, the “Norma A” in 1947. He built more than 20 boats in his lifetime, including the Norma Amanda, his favorite boat that his son still fishes out of today. He was a lobster fisherman, seined for herring, and had a boat yard. He was instrumental in forming the Downeast Lobstermen Association, and served as president of that organization for five years. This led him to serve as liaison for the Department of Marine Resources. Junior was a very outspoken supporter of fishermen and fishermen’s rights. He held strong opinions and worked hard for cooperation between the fishermen and government regulations. Junior served as chairman of the Beals School Board for more than 20 years and was very instrumental with the construction of the Beals Elementary School in 1980. He was an active member of the Beals Wesleyan Church since 1962, serving on the Church Board for many years, as a member and Vice Chairman. The prayers, love and support offered Junior by his church family during his illness was an encouragement to him and is greatly appreciated by his family. Junior was an avid sports enthusiast and enjoyed playing softball and golf with his family and friends. He was a member at the Barren View Golf Course in Jonesboro. He dearly loved his family, and every one had a special place in his heart. Junior is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Norma (Wilcox) Backman; a son, Ralph T. Backman and his wife, Terry, of Beals; 10 grandchildren, Daphne Backman and her friend, Chris, of Lewiston, Dennis Kinghorn of Milbridge, Gretchen Solomon and her husband, Joshua, of Weare, N.H., Heather Carver and her husband, Judson IV, of Jonesport, Joshua Backman and his wife, Tracy, of Jonesport, Seth and Zachary Fancy of Pulaski, N.Y., Amanda Grace Backman of Beals, who gave her grandfather special loving care, Ralph L. Backman of Beals and Tamika Eutsay of Mansfield, Mass.; eight great-grandchildren, D’Mitri, Michaela, Sam, Judson V, Taylor, Matt, Zel, and Colin; a sister, Rebecca Graves of Attleboro, Mass.; a daughter-in-law, Shirley Backman Beal and her husband, Robert, of Beals; a son-in-law, Rev. Rupert L. “Bud” Fancy and his wife, Irene, of Pulaski, N.Y.; a brother-in-law, Elmer “Herky” Wilcox and his wife, Jean, of Beals; and several special nieces, nephews, and cousins. He will also be missed by special friends, John and Linda Lipinski of Jonesport and several other special friends, lobstermen, and the church family at the Beals Wesleyan Church. In addition to his parents, Junior was predeceased by an infant son, Lynefield Backman; a daughter, Kathy Backman Fancy; a son, Herman “Jackie” Backman III; brothers, Fulton, Otto, Raymond, Donald and Bernard; and sisters Ulrika, Laura and Louisa. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 28, at the Beals Wesleyan Church, Beals, with the Rev. Rupert Fancy and Rev. Mark Wheaton, pastor, officiating. Interment will be at the Sewall Field Cemetery, Beals. Gifts in memory of Junior may be sent to the Beals Wesleyan Church, P.O. Box 162, Beals, ME 04611 or to the Kathy Backman Fancy Scholarship Fund at Bethany Bible College, 26 Western St., Sussex, NB, E4E 1E6. Arrangements are by Bragdon-Kelley-Campbell Funeral Home, Milbridge. A memorial register and directions are available online at www.Legacy.com.
HERMAN ‘JUNIOR’ BACKMAN JR.
