Welcome! (Willkommen!) Thank you for visiting us. Please contact us to be added to our mailing list or for family history information. Feel free to browse the site or find and submit your Genealogy information. Check back often for updates and keep in touch with us on this site and on Facebook!

Click the play arrow below to hear some family history from our former president, Brian Bagenstose. 

 

Thank you for stopping by our website and spread the word of our family association to other ‘stoses. 

Sincerely,

Backenstoss Family Assn. Board of Directors 

  The members of the original Backenstoss family arrived in Philadelphia in the year 1743 and first settled in Bern Township, located in Berks County, PA.

 

This year’s reunion was held on Sunday, September 14th 2025 at the Reading Fighting Phillies Game time 1 PM

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2025 Presidents Message

   The Backenstoss Family Assoc. of America (BFA) held its 93rd reunion on Sunday, September 14th, At The Reading Fighting Phils Game.  The Backenstoss family arrived in America in 1743, so this year’s reunion will mark the 282nd anniversary of our family’s rich history and beginning in North America.  

   As our organization looks to the future, changes related to the continuation of our reunions, yearly newsletters converting to email and website only, genealogical records continuation online privacy concerns. We have much to discuss and work on the coming year. Our intent is to do the best we can while maintaining our website for history and future communications.  

  We are now fully transitioned as Co-Presidents, Christopher Bagenstose and Kyle Bagenstose. We are the sons of former Treasure Ken Bagenstose and President Brian Bagenstose respectively. It is self-evident these efforts will only endure if new generations of Backenstoss descendants take up the tasks. At present, Brian, Ken Bryn, and Jon will remain voting officers of the association as they choose to or are able to contribute. We thank you and all of our family members who have passed on, sincerely for the great strides you have made for the family association. Including major updates to the conversion of genealogy books to web site and information. Please join us in thanking them and sending well wishes in your “quasi-retirement.” 

 

A message from former President Brian Bagenstose,

      As new Generation X’er presidents with four “Boomers” as officers, we all hope to continue serving the association for the foreseeable future, but good stewardship requires consideration of passing the torch to new members. It was in the early 1990’s when Brian was contacted by Henry (Hank) Backenstoss, who was at that time President of the Backenstoss Association of America.  Brian’s message continues, “I was aware the organization existed, but I had never been an active member. In fact, I had never attended one of the reunions. Hank Backenstoss was a Lehigh trained engineer who had achieved a highly successful career in the business world. He was small in stature, but I came to know him as one of the most persuasive and persistent people I had ever met. He was, simply, one tough wonderful guy! Hank prevailed upon younger (at that time) members of the organization to join those who were involved with the continuation of the B.F.A. Those of us who became involved have been rewarded with a deeper understanding of our family’s history and traditions. We have met, personally, virtually and through correspondence, Backenstoss descendants throughout the United States and many foreign countries, and we have enjoyed and strengthened relationships with each other as a result of our service to the B.F.A.”

 -Brian Bagenstose 

   We ask that younger members of our organization (I’ll let each of you define “younger”) who are interested in helping continue our family organization contact any of the officers whose contact information is listed here. Email, facetime, social media, etc. has made it possible for anyone to take on a meaningful role regardless of their place of residence. We plan onm doing more with the website and remote media going forward. 

We hope you will join those who have made possible “The perpetuation of the history and traditions of the family and its social enjoyment, virtually or in person” We wish all B.F.A. members healthy and happy years to come. 

(Co-President) – Christopher Bagenstose, cc. Kyle Bagenstose (Co-President) 

Click here for all current details on our reunion page

Click to view previous years Newsletters