On Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 1:34 p.m. our beloved wife, mom, grandma, and sister entered peacefully into the presence of God while surrounded by her family and dear friends. Joyce Kay Bachman was born September 14, 1952, in Falls City, Nebraska to Keith Aaron and Irene Martha (Fischer) Johansen, a loving Christian family. She loved and honored her mother and father.
Joyce’s five siblings were not just her brothers and sisters but her closest friends. With her older sisters, Linda Sue and Marcia Ann, they formed an inseparable trio. In the next four years, the girls were joined by two ornery brothers, Stephen Keith and Larry Lynn, and the family enjoyed farm life north of Rulo. When Joyce was elementary age, the family moved on the Nebraska/Kansas state line, and she attended the Reserve School. Almost two decades after her oldest sibling was born, Angela Jo, was welcomed as the baby of the family. These six siblings lived life together from going to church every Sunday to family vacations to regular drop by visits at their homes. Joyce loved her brothers and sisters and their families. She was especially close with Steve’s wife, Rita, who was also Bob’s sister and their lifelong neighbor. In 1998, she lost her brother Larry, and in 2023, she lost her sister Linda. Their deaths broke her heart, but she held fast to the hope of reuniting with them in heaven.
Joyce was a proud graduate of the class of 1970 from Hiawatha High School in Hiawatha, Kansas. She made lifelong friendships and enjoyed attending class reunions. In the fall of 1969, Joyce was a senior in high school, and Robert (Bob) Dean Bachman was working at his brother’s home cutting wood. Joyce was at the same home babysitting their children. She thought 24-year-old Bob was very handsome and unplugged his saw to get his attention. It worked, and on December 10, 1969, he appeared on her doorstep with a box of French mint melt aways and took her on the first of many dates. Just two months after her high school graduation, 17-year-old Joyce married the love of her life. Immediately following their wedding ceremony, Bob and Joyce traveled to Yellowstone National Park in their 1969 Ford Galaxy starting a lifetime of family vacations to the National Park System. Throughout their almost 55-year marriage, they made their home on the family farm south of Rulo where Bob still resides today.
In 1973, they welcomed their first of three daughters, Merci Dawn followed by Jill Kristin in 1976 and Kara Brooke in 1977. Bob and Joyce ensured their daughters knew they were loved and cherished from birth to adulthood. They dedicated their daughters to God raising them in the Falls City Church of the Nazarene. As their daughters grew their families, Joyce loved their husbands, Jared and Corey, just as sons to her. All three of their daughters and their families are faithful followers of God and rest in the knowledge of His hope and promise of eternity.
In the fall of 1981, Joyce dual enrolled in both the Methodist Medical Center School of Nursing in St. Joseph, Missouri and Highland Community College. In just three years, she graduated at the top of her class as a registered nurse (RN). She maintained her nursing licensures in Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska working at Methodist Medical Center (Heartland Health System), Hiawatha Hospital, In-Home Health, Searight Family Practice, Oak Ridge Acres, Midland Villa, Falls City Care Center, NEK-CAP, Inc. and White Cloud Health Center. Joyce loved working as a nurse, providing care to our community, and developing lifelong friendships with her fellow nurses. She volunteered for hospice care and served on the Richardson County Cancer Society board including as a term as president. She was instrumental in organizing the Relay for Life fundraiser and also volunteered at her church. In 1992, she was teaching women how to do self-exams for breast cancer when she found a cancerous lump in her own breast. At the age of 38-years-old, she underwent treatment at the University of Nebraska and was a proud breast cancer survivor.
In 2005, Joyce suffered a brain injury during surgery known as a cognitive impairment associated with perioperative surgery. As that area of her injured brain aged faster than the rest, it allowed for the onset of early Alzheimer’s Disease which required her to retire from nursing in 2009. Joyce’s family never allowed this horrible disease to define her worth and value. As Bob promised to her during their marriage vows, she was loved and cherished by them at her home until her death.
Surpassing her love of work and community was her love for her family. Joyce spent countless hours attending events for her children and grandchildren, traveling with immediate and extended family, and gardening. Joyce knew no strangers, welcoming all she met. Her beautiful smile and contagious laugh will be missed by all.
Joyce is survived by her devoted husband and best friend, Robert Bachman and their daughters: Merci (Jared) Kirkendall of Rulo, NE; Jill (Corey) Kenney; and Kara Friedline both of Olathe, KS. She is survived by three siblings: Marcia (Jim) Frederick, Falls City, NE; Steve (Rita) Johansen; and Angie (Bobby) Hunzeker, both of Rulo, NE as well as sisters-in-law Louise Pfankuche, Kansas City, MO; Marjorie Surman, Rulo, NE; Marlene McKim, Falls City, NE; Ruth Lieneman, Robinson, KS; Wauneta (Jim) Catlett, Kansas City, MO, Chris Pokorny; and brothers-law Ben (Sandy) Bachman and Gary(Cindy) Bachman both of Falls City, NE. Joyce was a proud grandma to thirteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Zavan (Kathy) Kirkendall, parents of Lyla, Kayson, and Clay; Emmet (fiancée Naomi) Kirkendall; Cole (Gracie) Kirkendall; Jozie Kirkendall; Asher, Amelia, and Alice Kenney; Sage, Ruby, Iris, Mara, Oliver, and August Friedline, and many nieces and nephews and their children. She was proceeded in death by her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Bob Lehmkuhl; brother Larry Johansen; brothers-in-law Thomas Odle and Ronald Bachman; sisters-in-law Bernice (Red) Adams and Alice (Jimmy) Crouch.
A funeral will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at River of Hope Fellowship, 27765 US-159, Forest City, MO with Paster David Showalter, dear family friend, officiating. Interment will be in the Rulo City Cemetery in Rulo, NE. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at River of Hope Fellowship.
Funeral services will be handled by Chamberlain Funeral Home of Mound City, MO. Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainfuneral.com.
The family wishes to thank Saint Croix Hospice who provided excellent care to her and friendship to Bob and Merci during their daily care of Joyce. Memorials may be designated to Rulo City Cemetery or family choice.
