Obit: Backaus, Tammy Sue (1966 - 2007)

Contact: Crystal Wendt
Email: crystal@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Backaus, Lueneburg, Resong, Brumm, Bader, Schmidt, Fenske, Helm, Wysocky, Anding

----Sources: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, Wood Co., Wis.) Monday, November 5, 2007

Backaus, Tammy Sue (27 June 1966 - 2 Nov. 2007)

Tammy S. Backaus

Tammy Sue Backaus, 41, of Neillsville died Friday, Nov. 2, 2007, at the University Of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview Hospital from complications due to a short but courageous battle with acute myelogenous leukemia.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Neillsville, Wis. Pastor Keith Lueneburg and Father Woodrow Pace will Co-officiate. Music will be provided by Ronald Resong, organist, and St. Mary's Choir. Interment will be in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Gesche Funeral Home, with 8 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until the service at the church Wednesday.

Casket bearers are Philip "Sparky" Backaus, Tom Backaus, Joe Backaus, Mike Backaus, Jeff Brumm and Jeff Bader.

Tammy Sue Schmidt was born June 27, 1966, in Neillsville, the daughter of Robert and Doreen (Fenske). She attended and graduated from Granton High School in 1984 and went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in health promotion wellness from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 1988. She then worked as the manager of the fitness center for the Pillsbury Company in Minneapolis, Minn.

Tammy and Eric R. Backaus married July 20, 1991, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Neillsville, Wis. She later returned to school and earned an associate degree in accounting from Mid-State Technical College in Wisconsin Rapids in 1996. Tammy held numerous jobs during her life, currently working as support staff for the Neillsville School District and office manager for Tesmer Construction Corp. She also worked as clerk for the town of Pine Valley.

Although she left us at an early age, Tammy lived a very fulfilling life. Along with being a wonderful full-time mother, Tammy volunteered whenever called upon. Whether it was for her church or youth football, Tammy was someone you could always count on to be there, no matter what.

Tammy was a very intelligent and athletic person. She was a member of the National Honor Society in high school and graduated in the top of her class. She enjoyed sports and excelled at volleyball and basketball in high school. She continued playing and enjoying sports the rest of her life. She also loved vacationing in warm places, the outdoors, walking, snowmobiling, camping and gardening and all of her sons' activities, but her main enjoyment in life came in spending quality time with her family. She was a member of the Zion American Evangelical Lutheran Church in Granton.

She is survived by her husband, Eric; two sons, Sterling and Bryce, all of Neillsville; her mother, Doreen (Eldon) Helm of Granton; her father, Robert (Ruth) Schmidt of Neillsville; two brothers, Tony (Rose) Schmidt of Sarasota, Fla., and Todd (Debbie) Schmidt of Wauwatosa; a step-sister, Suzette (Chuck) Wysocky of Altoona; three step-brothers, Brian (Lori) Helm of Arden Hills, Minn., Dennis (Jessica) Anding of Minneapolis, Minn., and Matt (Michelle) Anding of Neillsville; her maternal grandmother, Idora Fenske of Marshfield; and her paternal grandmother, Lucille Schmidt of Neillsville, Wis.

She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, Herb Fenske and Walter Schmidt.

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting the family with funeral arrangements.