Connie Jean Backman Gubbels

Connie Jean Gubbels was born on July 1, 1949, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Clarence and Zadia (Bass) Backman. She was the youngest of eight loving and supportive brothers and sisters. She graduated from Yankton High School (SD). Connie was married for 27 years (Larry D. Gubbels) and was blessed with four beautiful daughters, Michelle, Sheri, Melissa, and Jaime.

She earned an AA degree from Johnson County Community College (KS) and later obtained her BA degree in computer information systems from Ottawa University (KS). She was employed for 22 years at UMB bank of Kansas City, where she enjoyed her career as a computer programmer/application developer. She was a loyal and loved part of the UMB team until her retirement in May of 2019.

Connie, our blue-eyed beauty, enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and siblings. In her free time she enjoyed cooking and sewing. She had a deep love for horses since childhood and was a 4H member who competed at state and local fairs. She won several ribbons and was a hard worker even as a young child. Many have described Connie as being a strong, loyal, and passionate woman who gave 100% of herself as a daughter, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, and employee.

Connie was surrounded by her greatest treasures in life, her family, through the last few weeks and days of her life. Love poured over her until the very end on September 10, 2019.

Survivors include her children: Michelle Seyer (Stanley) of Jackson MO, grandchildren Joshua and Dylan; Sheri Brown (Joe) of Lee's Summit MO, grandchildren Jordan (Jamie), Hannah, and Casey; Melissa Elkins (Jim) of Knoxville TN, grandchildren Peyton, Owen, and Ella; and Jaime Brungardt (Matt), grandchildren Carter and Gavin. Her siblings include Clara Eschenbaum, Arlene Chase, Andy (Mary) Backman, Patty (Terry) Jonason, as well as sister-in-law Jan Backman and brother-in-law Lionel (Chris) Bostwick. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, and great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by parents Clarence and Zadia Backman, brothers Doyle (Pat) Backman and Evan Backman, sister Bonnie Bostwick, brothers-in-law Bill Chase and Melvin Eschenbaum, and infant brother Darryl Stanley Backman.

A celebration of Connie's life will be held on Monday, September 16th from 10:00-noon at the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 14275 S Blackbob Rd, Olathe, KS.

A special thanks and deep gratitude go out to the Sisters Servants of Mary and Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care for the love and support they gave Connie and her family through this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations go to either of these two amazing organizations or Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST / https://cureangelman.org) honoring Connie's special granddaughter Peyton Elkins.








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