Patrick Michael Backus

Patrick Michael Backus

March 6, 2025

Patrick Michael (Mike) Backus, 84, of North Scranton, died on Thursday afternoon at Geisinger – CMC, Scranton. He was preceded in death by his wife, Nora Jean Henehan Backus, who died in 1995, after 32 years of marriage.

Born in Lackawanna, NY, son of the late Herman Err and Mary Lydon Backus, Mike heard the call of duty shortly after high school, enlisting in the United States Marine Corps. He honorably served his country, and was active during The Bay of Pigs incident and the Vietnam War. Mike would share a lifelong camaraderie with his fellow veterans as a member of the local VFW Post.

After returning stateside, he continued his schooling and would receive an Associates Degree in Design. He parlayed that experience, discipline and education into a successful career in Product Design for prominent local companies with global reach, principally Bausch and Lomb and Chamberlain Manufacturing.

Mike loved Baseball. In his youth he played shortstop for the Minooka Little League. The team went to the Little League World Series, where he earned the nickname “The Home Run Kid”. Later he would play first base for the Second Marine Division Baseball Team.

He was a generous and giving father to his eight children and fifteen grandchildren, always helping out whenever he could. Whether he was lending a helping hand with a home project or financially, Mike was always there for his family and friends.

He is survived by three sons, Michael Backus, and wife Lynn and their daughter Lauren and son Michael, Archbald, William Backus, and wife Cheryl, Dunmore, Edward Backus, and wife Michele and their two daughters Madison and Brynn, Ransom Township. Two daughters, Nora Jean Dargatis, and her sons Christian, Alexander and Matthew, Satellite Beach Florida. Nadine Fox, and wife Nicole Barnabe-Fox and their daughter Autumn, Moscow, a daughter-in-law, Laura Backus and her daughters Nora Jean and Brianna, Scranton. and granddaughters, Victoria Crisci, Scranton, Aubrey Lukaitis, Dickson City, and Kennedy Lukaitis, Dickson City, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by sons, Lance Corporal Eugene E. Backus and Patrick Backus, a daughter Mary Theresa Backus, grandsons, Eugene Edward Donovan, and Jeffrey Dargatis, brothers Herman, Eugene and Robert Backus and David “Butch” Lydon, sisters, Esther Novajeski, Ethel Ozark, Mary Ellen Ferguson, and Evelyn Lydon.

The funeral will be conducted on Friday, March 14, 2025, with Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 am in Holy Rosary Church at Mary, Mother of God Parish, 320 William Street, Scranton. The family will receive relatives and friends at the church from 9:00am until the commencement of services. Interment, private, at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are entrusted to Edward Knight O'Donnell Funeral Home, LLC, 323 William Street, Scranton.

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