Stanley Wayne Backenkeller

Stanley Wayne Backenkeller, age 79, of Elizabeth, IL, passed away on March 5, 2024. A celebration of Stan’s life will be held Saturday, March 16, 2024 at Woodbine Bend Country Club from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. A time of sharing will take place at noon.

Stan was born October 30, 1944, in Savanna, IL, the son of John and Lida (Irby) Backenkeller. He grew up in the Schapville, IL area and graduated from Elizabeth High School with the class of 1962. He would go on to attend Rockford Business College before moving home to work the family farm and soon, the family hardware store. A few years later, Stan signed on as a mail carrier for the Elizabeth Post Office, serving for more than 30 years. During that time, he bought and operated his family’s hardware store for a number of years and owned Dually’s Bar in Elizabeth for more than a decade.

On March 12, 1994, Stan married Nancy Rizzo. They would have celebrated 30 years together later this month. Stan was a proud member of the Elizabeth community. He served as an EMT and Firefighter for many years and was instrumental in starting the original “Station Wagon” Elizabeth Ambulance service. He participated in many bowling leagues and golf tournaments over the years, and loved spending time outdoors, camping, or with his beloved dogs, Spud, Jug, and Earl.

A cowboy through and through, one of Stan’s favorite hobbies was riding horses, while donning his custom-made cowboy hat of course! He was a longtime member, and former president of the Northern Illinois Southern Wisconsin Trail Riders Association and a member of the Terrapin Riders Saddle Club, organizing many trail rides over the decades. After retirement, Stan could often be found tinkering in his garage, practicing his woodworking skills.

Stan will be dearly missed by his wife, Nancy Backenkeller; son, Steve (Judy) Backenkeller, of Tucson, AZ; nine step-children, Janine, Colleen, Carol, Margaret, Michele, Julie, Shane, Shannon, and Traci; grandchildren, Nick and Jade; and many step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Stan is preceded in death by his parents, John and Lida, and daughter, Julie Backenkeller.