Florence M. Backlund

Florence was born December 7, 1922 to Frank Jones Moreau and Eleanor Baird Probasco Moreau at 14 Yard Avenue, Freehold, NJ. During the school year of 1939-1940, she was the first woman president of any high school class in the history of Freehold, N.J. She then attended the New Jersey State Teachers' College in Trenton (now the College of New Jersey) as a kindergarten-primary education major. Florence was elected as President of the Student Government for her junior and senior years in college, graduating in January 1944 when she was the Marshal, leading the graduates into the hall. She was selected to be a member of Kappa Delta Pi, National Education Society, and was distinguished by the "Service Above Self" award. She taught second, first, and kindergarten grades in Freehold and Colts Necks township schools in New Jersey for twenty years until her retirement from teaching in 1976. She was a life-time member of the New Jersey Education Association.

An active member of numerous organizations, Florence was a current member of the Menno Haven Fellowship transferring from the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring, Chambersburg, PA when it became difficult for her to physically drive to services. She served as an elder for other Presbyterian churches in FL and NJ where she resided. In earlier years she was a Sunday School teacher and active at the Old Brick Reformed Church in Marlboro, NJ. Pursuing an interest as an artist after her retirement from teaching, she was elected to the Association of the National League of American Pen Women. Most recently she was a member of the Council for the Arts and the Franklin County Art Association.

Florence was married to and preceded in death by Pierre D. Van Mater, Jr. ("Duke"), Henry A. Koenig, and Jim Backlund; preceded in death by her three sisters, Frances Burdge, Evelyn Selby, and Sarah Halliday, her step-daughter Jean Ann Koenig Stieber and her husband James Stieber, and many dear friends. Survivors include children Margaret Van Mater Goembel (Carl D.) of Vero Beach, FL; Gretchen Stone (William C. Grubb) of Austin, TX and Staunton, VA; Pierre D. Van Mater III (Carol Ann) of Marlboro, N.J., and David D. Van Mater (Leona) of Hallsville, TX; step-daughter Karen Koenig (Jerome Solomon) of Nyack, NY; seven grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be held at Menno Haven Christian Fellowship, Chambersburg, PA on Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 10 a.m. Chaplain Robert E. Keener of Menno Haven and Rev. Mark A. Medina of the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring will officiate. Internment will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Freehold, NJ, January 18, 2014, at Old Brick Church, Marlboro, NJ, when her remains will be laid to rest next to her husband, Henry A. Koenig, and sister, Frances Burdge. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Menno Haven Benevolence Fund, Inc., (2075 Scotland Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17201); Mennonite Disaster Service (1018 Main Street, Akron, PA 17501-9983), or the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring Mission Fund, (221 N. Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201).

Arrangements by Auer Cremation Services of Pennsylvania, Inc.