Leonard Back

Leonard Back was born in St. Louis, Missouri on Sept. 7, 1933 to Alice and Leslie Back. He immediately became the little brother to his sisters Melba and Helen. Len gave his heart to Jesus at 12 years old and attended a local Nazarene church. He lived in the same house built by his dad until he left for college. He attended and graduated from Northwest Nazarene College (NNC), where he met the love of his life, Geraldine Leih. Len played baseball and basketball at NNC. Some may not know, but Len was ambidextrous, which made him particularly efficient in sports. Len and Geri married in August 1954, then relocated to Southern California, where Len worked as a claim adjuster at Allstate Insurance for fifteen years. There they had three children, Trycia, Leslie, and Kelly. The family moved to Oregon in 1969, where they raised their kids in the country in Turner, Oregon. Len loved being out on land and enjoyed riding horses, cutting wood, bucking hay, and a variety of other outdoor activities. Len was an avid baseball fan, particularly of the St. Louis Cardinals. Len was a well-respected realtor with Prudential Real Estate for 22 years. Len loved God and his family, and spent much time being involved in his local Nazarene church and spending time with family. Len was very active in the church, spending many years on the church board. Len truly felt he had been given the gift of Encouragement and spent a lifetime encouraging and building up others. Len also loved a good joke, always finding a way to lighten up the mood in the room. He knew how to put a smile on people’s faces.The Lord welcomed him home on March 26, 2026. Well done thy good and faithful servant. Len is survived by his wife of 72 years, Geri. His daughters Trycia (Tom) and Kelly (Dale) and preceded in death by his son, Les. Len and Geri have 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.