Darrell’s Obituary
Darrell Thomas Backstrom, CD
15 July 1937 – 31 July 2020
Darrell Thomas Backstrom ~ age 83 of Kingston, passed away peacefully in the Valley Regional Hospital, Kentville, on July 31st 2020.
Born in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, on the 15th of July 1937, he was the son of the late Susan (Huckerby) and Harry Backstrom. Darrell grew up in Lakeview, Ontario (now part of Mississauga) on the shore of Lake Ontario. He graduated from the Radio College of Canada (RCC) and needed his mother’s permission to join the RCAF at the age of 17. He served honourably for 22 years as an Instrument Technician, with postings to Summerside where he met and married the love of his life, Frances (Gaudet) and welcomed the birth of their first son, John; Baden-Solingen Germany where their second son, Kriss was born; Trenton Ontario, where their daughter Karen was born; and finally found a home in the Annapolis Valley with a posting to Greenwood, where in addition to his military duties he was also the Base Animal Control Officer. Following his military career, he joined the Berwick Police Department as a constable, before returning to Greenwood as a facilities maintenance member and then a heavy equipment driver with Base Transport until his retirement in 1993.
Darrell lived life large, tackling any new hobby with great enthusiasm; he loved riding motorcycles, talking to the world on CB radios, photography, pick-up trucks, and playing golf. In his younger days he could often be found with his sons, hunting ducks in the Belisle Marsh or fishing for Stripers on the Annapolis River. He formed the Greenwood Cyke ‘n Hike Club, leading a group of 20 teenagers on a two-week cycle adventure to PEI and back. His true passion was travelling and camping with his wife Frances and he was a founding member and director of the local chapter of the Good Sam Club. In his later years he enjoyed socializing with friends, playing “pissonya”, watching golf and listening to country music with his wife.
He will be sadly missed by Frances, his wife of 64 years; his sister, Moonyeen (Cormack) Oakville, Ontario; step-brothers, Robert (Ester) Walton and Billy (Debbie) Walton, Woodstock, Ontario; sons, John (Sharon), Hammonds Plains and their children, Carolyn (Dave) and Mark; Kriss (Martha) Hopkinsville, Kentucky and his step-son Jacob; daughter, Karen (Greg) Llewellyn, Coldbrook and their children, Shawn and Kristy-Lynn; nephews, Dean and Craig; niece, Lynne and extended family member Brenda. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his step-father, John Walton, step-brother, Philip Walton and sister, Barbara (Musgnung).
The family would like to send a heartfelt thank you to the Nurses, Doctors and Staff of the Emergency department, the ICU and Medical A of the Valley Regional Hospital for their loving care and support during this difficult time.
Donations in Darrell’s memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
Read More
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Darrell Thomas Backstrom July 15 1937 July 31 2020..
Death notice for the town of: Middleton, Province: Nova Scotia