In memory…. -- Miss Wisconsin Discussion

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Date Posted: 16:25:11 07/02/25 Wed
Author: Fan
Subject: In memory….

It was exactly one month ago today on June 2, 2025 that a funeral service was held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin for a former Miss Wisconsin pageant board member and pageant show producer and entertainer.

Gerald "Jerry" Chris Backus of Oshkosh, died on Monday, May 26, 2025 after a long illness at age 72.
http://www.konrad-behlman.com/obituaries/gerald-jerry-backus

Jerry was the longtime writer, director, and producer of the Miss Wisconsin pageant telecast shows when they aired statewide live from the Oshkosh West High School's Civic Auditorium.

He was also a member of the entertainment talent on stage, often taking part in the vocals and dancing, while his older brother James "Jim" Backus was the announcer. Most pageant fans would recognize Jim's voice when announcing "Live from the Civic Auditorium in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; its the 19__ Miss Wisconsin pageant" at the start of the pageant shows. Their brother Mark also took part with the back-stage organizing of the state pageants, and he also helped local pageant productions around Wisconsin.

At age 25, Jerry married former Miss Louisiana 1973, Debbie Ward in Oshkosh on June 9, 1978. She was one year older than Jerry and was a 1973 preliminary talent winner in Atlantic City, New Jersey with a vocal talent, and was later named third runner-up to Miss America 1974. She co-hosted the Miss Wisconsin pageant and assisted with production numbers as well as co-hosting the Miss America telecasts in the mid-1970s.

While their marriage was short-lived, they had three sons, Ryan and Shawn Backus, who survive Jerry. Sadly, Jerry and Debra lost their son Brandon in September 2008 at age 25 due to a motorcycle accident. She later remarried and currently lives in Lakeland, Louisiana.

As his family noted in Jerry's published obituary, he was a member of the Miss Wisconsin pageant board of directors for 14 years, and he also served as the executive vice president of the state pageant organization during the pageant’s 25th anniversary (of the state pageant being held in Oshkosh) in 1987.

We will remember Jerry, and send condolences to his family.

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> >It was exactly one month ago today on June 2, 2025 >that a funeral service was held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin >for a former Miss Wisconsin pageant board member and >pageant show producer and entertainer. > >Gerald "Jerry" Chris Backus of Oshkosh, died on >Monday, May 26, 2025 after a long illness at age 72. >http://www.konrad-behlman.com/obituaries/gerald-jerry-b >ackus > >Jerry was the longtime writer, director, and producer >of the Miss Wisconsin pageant telecast shows when they >aired statewide live from the Oshkosh West High >School's Civic Auditorium. > >He was also a member of the entertainment talent on >stage, often taking part in the vocals and dancing, >while his older brother James "Jim" Backus was the >announcer. Most pageant fans would recognize Jim's >voice when announcing "Live from the Civic Auditorium >in Oshkosh, Wisconsin; its the 19__ Miss Wisconsin >pageant" at the start of the pageant shows. Their >brother Mark also took part with the back-stage >organizing of the state pageants, and he also helped >local pageant productions around Wisconsin. > >At age 25, Jerry married former Miss Louisiana 1973, >Debbie Ward in Oshkosh on June 9, 1978. She was one >year older than Jerry and was a 1973 preliminary >talent winner in Atlantic City, New Jersey with a >vocal talent, and was later named third runner-up to >Miss America 1974. She co-hosted the Miss Wisconsin >pageant and assisted with production numbers as well >as co-hosting the Miss America telecasts in the >mid-1970s. > >While their marriage was short-lived, they had three >sons, Ryan and Shawn Backus, who survive Jerry. Sadly, >Jerry and Debra lost their son Brandon in September >2008 at age 25 due to a motorcycle accident. She later >remarried and currently lives in Lakeland, Louisiana. > >As his family noted in Jerry's published obituary, he >was a member of the Miss Wisconsin pageant board of >directors for 14 years, and he also served as the >executive vice president of the state pageant >organization during the pageant’s 25th anniversary >(of the state pageant being held in Oshkosh) in 1987. > >We will remember Jerry, and send condolences to his >family.

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