Professor emeritus Bruce R. Backer, age 96, of New Ulm departed this life on Thursday, October 8, 2026 at the Oak Hill Living Center in New Ulm.

Funeral service will held at 11 am on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Ulm. Pastor Rob Guenther will officiate, and burial will follow in the St. Paul’s Lutheran Cemetery in New Ulm.

Visitation will be held from 9-11 am on Saturday, October 17th at the church prior to the service.

The Minnesota Valley Funeral Homes of New Ulm are assisting the family with arrangements at this time. To leave an online condolence for his family, or to sign the guestbook, go to: mvfh.org

Bruce is survived by his dear wife, Virginia, to whom he was married for 70 years. They were blessed with six children (one deceased in infancy): Warren (Barb) of New Ulm, Annemarie (Jim) Huebner of Milwaukee, Daniel of Apple Valley, MN, Miriam (Scott) Waldner of New Ulm, and Paul (Bethany) of Winsted, MN; nine grandchildren: Philip (Becky) Huebner, Karis (Chad) Graham, Elisabeth (Tim) Marker, David (Rachel) Backer, Catherine, Kelsey and Elise Backer, Kortney (Aaron) Schroeder Gronau, and Austin Schroeder, and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, son-in-law, John Hoffmann; and sister, and brother-in-law Jeanette and Orville Hando.

Bruce Richard Backer was born on December 13, 1929, to Prof. Emil D. and Erna (Albrecht) Backer in New Ulm, Minnesota. He was baptized into the Christian faith on December 25, 1929, in the Backer home. He was confirmed in the faith in 1943 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, New Ulm. He attended St. Paul’s Lutheran School, Martin Luther Academy (1947), Dr. Martin Luther College (diploma 1950), Northwestern College (B.A. 1952), Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (M.Div. cum laude 1956), Northwestern University (M.Music cum laude 1956), and was a candidate for a Ph.D. in musicology and German literature at the University of Minnesota in 1967.

Backer served his entire ministry at (Dr.) Martin Luther College. After graduation from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1956, he was assigned to DMLC as an assistant instructor at Winnebago Lutheran High School (Fond du Lac, WI). Upon his father’s death in 1957, he received a permanent assignment to the college in 1958. At the college, he taught organ lessons, directed choir, and developed a course in Lutheran Worship, which he taught until his retirement in 1995. During his tenure, he was instrumental in designing the Music Center, dedicated in 1961. After retirement he taught organ lessons as an assistant instructor until 2001. He and his father served the college for a total of seventy-nine years.

Bruce was committed to excellence in organ performance and instruction. He met Heinrich Fleischer in 1952 and studied with him on a continuing basis for forty years. Fleischer had been a student of Karl Straube and an instructor at the Leipzig Conservatory. In the United States he became professor of music at Valparaiso, chapel organist at University of Chicago, and professor at the University of Minnesota. He performed acclaimed recitals and gave lessons to advanced organ students. He died in 2006.

Bruce was also committed to the use of organ and choral music in connection with the liturgies of the church. He served St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm as part-time organist for fifty-eight years, and as director of the adult choir for twenty-five years. When WELS published CHRISTIAN WORSHIP A Lutheran Hymnal in 1993, Backer served on the hymn committee. He wrote five tunes and several settings for hymns for the hymnal.

Memorials are preferred to St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm or Martin Luther College.