John E. Back, 83, of Brookville, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at McCullough Hyde Memorial Hospital in Oxford, following a brief illness. He was born May 19, 1929 in St. Peters, Indiana, a son to Charles and Clara (Schweger) Back. John married Joyce Wallpe on December 19, 1951 at St. Mary's Church in Oxford, Ohio, and she survives. John served his country during the Korean War as part of the United States Army. He worked at Sperry Rubber (Sperry-Rice) and retired after 40 years of service. He was very involved in his community and was a 60 year member of the Bernard Hurst Post #77 American Legion, including the Firing Squad serving during the Sesqui-Centennial, St. Michaels Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the VFW, and the FOE 1129. He was a founding member of the Brookville Lions Club and sat on the board of directors for both Mainsource Bank and Twin Forks, Inc.Besides his wife of nearly 61 years, Joyce, John is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Denise Back of Muncie, Indiana; granddaughter Stephanie (Matt) Roberts of Muncie; grandson Alex (Lauren) Back of Muncie;step-grandson Stephen Baugh of Muncie; step-granddaughter, Karena Walter of Greenfield; step-granddaughter Dawn (JD) Fortner of Greenfield; step-grandson BJ (Angie) Brummett of Greenfield; and step-great-grandchildren Taylor, Kyla and Drew; brothers, Albert (Rita) Back of New Alsace, Paul (Ruth) Back of St. Peters, Harold (Donna) Back of Brookville, David (Bonnie) Back of Cedar Grove, Victor (Ginny) Back of Sunman, and Charles Back of Millville, Ohio, and sister Marlene (Art) Hoog of St. Leon. Also surviving is brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ray and Evelyn Amrhein of Brookville. Besides his parents, John was preceded in death by brothers, Jerome and Clarence Back, and sisters Margaret Lehane, Virginia Hoff and Dorothy Giesting.A mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, November 24, at St. Michael's Catholic Church with Father Sean Danda officiating. Burial will follow in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery with graveside military honors provided by the Bernard Hurst Post #77 American Legion.There will be no public visitation. Memorial donations may be made to the John and Joyce Back Speech and Hearing Disability Endowment through the Franklin County Community Foundation and the American Legion Firing Squad. Donation envelopes will be available at the church. Cook Funeral Home, 929 Main Street, Brookville, Indiana has been entrusted with the arrangements. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.cookfuneral .com.