Funeral Services for Charles Stuart “Stu” Bachmann will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. at the Hope Lutheran Church in rural Smithfield, Nebraska with Pastor Daniel Landin officiating. Interment will be held at the Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Gosper County, Nebraska following the service, with Military Honors provided by the Bertrand Veteran’s Organization in conjunction with the Offutt U.S. Air Force Base Military Funeral Honors Team. Face coverings will be required.
Due to health concerns, regarding the COVID-19 pandemic; current CDC and Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for Faith-Based Services and Gatherings will be followed. The Bachmann family sincerely encourages each person to make their decision whether to attend Stu’s services, based on the best interest of your health, and that of your community. Stu’s funeral service will be live streamed via the Hope Lutheran Church Facebook page. (https://www.facebook.com/HopeLutheranChurchSmithfield)
Charles Stuart “Stu” Bachman, 95 years of age, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, (formerly of Bertrand, Nebraska), passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2021, at the Stone Hearth Estates in Gothenburg. Stu was born on October 5, 1925, in Bertrand, the youngest of two boys born to Charles John and Sara Margret (Nylander) Bachmann. He received his primary education from the Spring county school District #35 southwest of Bertrand, and then attended Bertrand High School, graduating with the class of 1943.
At the age of 17, with the reluctant permission of his father, he enlisted in the Army on the condition that he stay away from airplanes and machine guns. Stu then enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps at the Kearney Air Base and after a whirlwind training at eight air bases in six states, arrived in England aboard the Queen Elizabeth on the day before Christmas, 1944. As part of the Eighth Air Force, Third Division, Stu was assigned to the 487th Bomb Group stationed at Lavenham, England. As a tailgunner on a B-17, he would go on to fly 27 combat missions before the war’s end. In December, 1945, he was honorably discharged at the rank of staff sergeant.
After his service in WWII, Stu returned to Bertrand and worked briefly at the CO-OP station before taking a job with Herman Ziems as a heavy equipment operator. He leveled many area farms for gravity irrigation which was relatively new at the time. During the winter of 48/49 he plowed snow from Thanksgiving to Easter.
On April 30th, 1954, Stu married Janice Meyer at Hope Lutheran Church near Smithfield. Shortly thereafter they moved to the family farm, where they would reside for nearly 60 years. Stu and Jan farmed and raised three children: Sara, Paul, and Joseph less than a mile from the church where they were married. In 2016, Stu and Jan began to reside at Stone Hearth Estates in Gothenburg.
Stu battled alcoholism and in 1978 with the “encouragement” of his wife and the District Court, he entered treatment and began his journey to sobriety. “Hello, my name is Stu, and I am an alcoholic,” is how many came to know the man known only as Stu B. Stu attended AA meetings, and helped to start a local group. He received his 42 year sobriety medallion just days before his passing.
Stu was a member of the VFW and American Legion, and rarely missed falling out for color guard on Memorial Day or fellow veteran’s funerals and continued to do that until he was 93. In 2019, Stu returned to his airbase in England for the first time in 75 years to commemorate the end of WWII. He and Jan traveled to several 487th Bomb Group reunions around the country throughout the years to keep in touch with his war buddies and reminisce.
In his lifetime Stu was an avid reader and local historian. His memory for the past was phenomenal. He enjoyed tinkering with woodworking and loved the companionship of animals, especially dogs, giving them a scratch or tossing a ball for both of their enjoyment.
Besides his parents; Stu was preceded in death by his brother, Vernon W. Bachmann and his wife, Betty.
He leaves to celebrate his life; his devoted wife of 66 years, Janice Bachmann of Gothenburg; daughter, Sara Wilke and her husband, Greg of North Platte, Nebraska; two sons: Paul Bachmann and his wife, Anita of Lexington, Nebraska; and Joseph Bachmann of Omaha, Nebraska; six grandchildren: Hannah Wilke of Dallas, Texas; Hope Wilke of Lincoln, Nebraska; Grant Wilke of Elkhorn, Nebraska; Grace Wilke of North Platte; Emily Darr and her husband, Mark of Kearney, Nebraska; and Jok Lewis of Hastings, Nebraska; two great-grandchildren: Delilah and Kian Darr of Kearney; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be held prior to the services at the Hope Lutheran Church.
A memorial has been established in Stu’s honor, and kindly suggested to the Valley Hope Foundation or the Bertrand Area Community Foundation.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.