Gary J. Bachman

Gary J. Bachman, 65, of Centralia, KS, died at Centralia on Tuesday, March 12, 2013.

He was born Nov. 3, 1947, at Hebron, the son of the late Joseph and Ethel (Foster) Bachman.

Gary was raised at Rulo and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1966. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force on Nov. 22, 1966, and was honorably discharged on Nov. 21, 1972, at McGuire Air Force Base. Upon his discharge, he returned to Rulo and attended Peru State College.

He married Claudia Blevins in 1972 at Troy, KS. The couple established their home at White Cloud, KS, when married and he worked for the Burlington Railroad. They lived various places while he worked for the railroad.  While living in Blair, he worked as a welder for Conoco. They moved back to Rulo and he helped his father farm; later moving to Grant, where he welded for Acura TRAK; later he came back to Rulo and worked as a night dispatcher at the casino. They moved to Centralia and he worked at Koch & Co. until he retired in 2011.

Gary was a member of Immanuel Conception Catholic Church in Rulo and was a recruiter for the Kansas National Guard.

Survivors include his wife, Claudia Bachman, Centralia; two sons, Scott Bachman and Josh (Lana) Bachman, Centralia; two step-daughters, Jeana Dovel and Dawn (Kevin) Bokelman, Falls City; brother, John (Carla) Bachman, Rulo; two sisters, Bonnie (Ron) Bragg, Omaha, and Rose Mary Baker, Oklahoma; close friend, Jessett Gifford, Centralia; and 12 grandchildren.

His parents preceded Gary in death.

Funeral services were held Friday, March 15, at the Dorr & Clark Funeral Home, with the Rev. Lyle K. Schoen officiating. Interment was in the Rulo Catholic Cemetery. Military graveside honors were by the Falls City Ceremonial Honor Guard. The family received friends Thursday at the funeral home.