Hans Bach

Hans Waldmar Bach Hans Waldmar Bach, age 97 of Atlanta, Michigan, service to our Lord and work for humanity complete, departed earth on the wings of angels to rejoin his treasured wife of 53 years. June has been patiently waiting for his heavenly embrace since her ascension on March 31, 2007. Hans was born in Phorzeim, Baden, (The Black Forest) Germany, on January 28, 1922. As a child, Hans and his sister Gretel, joined their young mother, aboard a ship bound for America via Ellis Island. The family joined his father in Detroit, MI who had earlier immigrated and found employment as well as a place for the family to grow and prosper as new, proud American citizens! Hans grew up in Detroit, but enjoyed and was educated in real life during summers, hard at work on his Aunt's farm in Pigeon, MI. As an American citizen, Hans was drafted and served in the U.S. Army. First stationed in California at a desk job, Hans felt he wasn't fully serving his country and requested a transfer overseas where his friends and countrymen were risking their lives waging the battles of WWII. Accepting a demotion in rank and pay, he transferred to the European Theater of Operations as an Anti-Artillery Machine Gunner for 17 months. Ultimately marching across Europe, his unit entered Germany, his birthplace and where several uncles were fighting, now as his enemy in wartime. He served the U.S.A. with honor, distinction, compassion and great humanity. Upon his separation from duty, February 25, 1946, Hans returned home and attempted to resume "civilian" life. Having attended Denby HS and Cass Tech, he developed an interest in the work of a draftsman. He became a Mechanical Engineer, working at several firms and began designing plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems for businesses and skyscrapers across the United States. He worked for firms whose designs included the Sears Tower in Chicago and the Twin Towers in New York City. His final jobs included work on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. In 1955 he married the woman who stole his heart, Margaret (June) LeDouceur in Windsor, Ontario. With an abundance of love to share, Hans and June adopted Kevin Joseph and Marianne Gloria. Hans was a devoted and unconditionally loving father to his children and shared with them his great love of all things related to nature, reading, art, animals, and aviation. Although humble and shy by nature, Hans instilled in his children, a great desire to be of service to others and to stand up for what they believed in, as well as those who could not fight for themselves. He encouraged them to put others first and to never forget God, family and their personal values. Above all Hans wanted his children to always remain humble and to, like he and their mother, always find humor, even in the darkest times. Hans was a talented artist who excelled in drawing, painting with oils, watercolors, and pastels. He seldom considered his paintings complete, due to his endless quest for perfection. He enjoyed photography and subjected his children to what they jokingly referred to as "grueling hours" of sitting for the "perfect" portrait. While in his 60's, he became a certified Aircraft Mechanic. He retired his coveted Waco UPF7 open cockpit bi-plane, in order to raise his children, yet spent endless hours maintaining and restoring his Waco as he dreamed of one day flying her again. Eyes ever lifted skyward, he could identify almost any plane overhead by sound. He spent countless hours at air shows, and was a faithful member of the National Waco Club. An avid gardener, Hans had a flair for raising wildflowers and roses, treating each plant as a tender, fragile gift from God. He preferred for the land to remain natural and spent each day of work in the big city dreaming of the day he could retire and move to a wide-open space. His dream was fulfilled when he and June moved to Atlanta, MI in the late 1980's to live out their golden years in the quiet solitude of nature. While in Atlanta, both Hans and June committed themselves to the community of Our Lord the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Over the years, he was, at times, an Usher, Treasurer, Gardener, snow shoveler and grass cutter, emergency fix-it man, Pew lay-out designer and installer, as well as a "you ask me and I will do it" man, even into his 90's! His ceaseless devotion to the church and our Lord also extended into his family, neighbors, and countless charities. Hans was predeceased by his devoted mother, Emma Katerina (nee Kaucher) and father, Franz Josef; his deeply loved sister, Margaret (Gretel), one year younger; and brother-in-law, Joe. He also was predeceased by his dear son Kevin, in October 2012. He is survived and deeply missed by his loving daughter and best friend, Marianne Bach, age 56, of Ann Arbor; his beloved nieces and nephews, Dianne (Duncan) of California and Carol (Mark) of Washington; and his loving great-niece and nephews, Elisabeth (Ovidiu), James, and Mike. Hans also leaves behind his loyal and faithful dog Dingo and cat Rusty who were devoted to keeping him warm, happy, and entertained! Hans will also be greatly missed by his many close friends, neighbors, and brothers and sisters in Christ from his church. Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Bach will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Atlanta, Father Michael Conner officiating. Visitation hours will be held on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Green Funeral Home with prayer services at 7 that evening, and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of service at the church. Interment with military honors will take place in the spring at Briley Township Cemetery.
Hans was born in Phorzeim, Baden, (The Black Forest) Germany, on January 28, 1922. As a child, Hans and his sister Gretel, joined their young mother, aboard a ship bound for America via Ellis Island. The family joined his father in Detroit, MI who had earlier immigrated and found employment as well as a place for the family to grow and prosper as new, proud American citizens! Hans grew up in Detroit, but enjoyed and was educated in real life during summers, hard at work on his Aunt's farm in Pigeon, MI.
As an American citizen, Hans was drafted and served in the U.S. Army. First stationed in California at a desk job, Hans felt he wasn't fully serving his country and requested a transfer overseas where his friends and countrymen were risking their lives waging the battles of WWII. Accepting a demotion in rank and pay, he transferred to the European Theater of Operations as an Anti-Artillery Machine Gunner for 17 months. Ultimately marching across Europe, his unit entered Germany, his birthplace and where several uncles were fighting, now as his enemy in wartime. He served the U.S.A. with honor, distinction, compassion and great humanity.
Upon his separation from duty, February 25, 1946, Hans returned home and attempted to resume "civilian" life. Having attended Denby HS and Cass Tech, he developed an interest in the work of a draftsman. He became a Mechanical Engineer, working at several firms and began designing plumbing, heating, and air conditioning systems for businesses and skyscrapers across the United States. He worked for firms whose designs included the Sears Tower in Chicago and the Twin Towers in New York City. His final jobs included work on the campus of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
In 1955 he married the woman who stole his heart, Margaret (June) LeDouceur in Windsor, Ontario. With an abundance of love to share, Hans and June adopted Kevin Joseph and Marianne Gloria. Hans was a devoted and unconditionally loving father to his children and shared with them his great love of all things related to nature, reading, art, animals, and aviation. Although humble and shy by nature, Hans instilled in his children, a great desire to be of service to others and to stand up for what they believed in, as well as those who could not fight for themselves. He encouraged them to put others first and to never forget God, family and their personal values. Above all Hans wanted his children to always remain humble and to, like he and their mother, always find humor, even in the darkest times. Hans was a talented artist who excelled in drawing, painting with oils, watercolors, and pastels. He seldom considered his paintings complete, due to his endless quest for perfection. He enjoyed photography and subjected his children to what they jokingly referred to as "grueling hours" of sitting for the "perfect" portrait.
While in his 60's, he became a certified Aircraft Mechanic. He retired his coveted Waco UPF7 open cockpit bi-plane, in order to raise his children, yet spent endless hours maintaining and restoring his Waco as he dreamed of one day flying her again. Eyes ever lifted skyward, he could identify almost any plane overhead by sound. He spent countless hours at air shows, and was a faithful member of the National Waco Club.
An avid gardener, Hans had a flair for raising wildflowers and roses, treating each plant as a tender, fragile gift from God. He preferred for the land to remain natural and spent each day of work in the big city dreaming of the day he could retire and move to a wide-open space. His dream was fulfilled when he and June moved to Atlanta, MI in the late 1980's to live out their golden years in the quiet solitude of nature.
While in Atlanta, both Hans and June committed themselves to the community of Our Lord the Good Shepherd Catholic Church. Over the years, he was, at times, an Usher, Treasurer, Gardener, snow shoveler and grass cutter, emergency fix-it man, Pew lay-out designer and installer, as well as a "you ask me and I will do it" man, even into his 90's! His ceaseless devotion to the church and our Lord also extended into his family, neighbors, and countless charities.
Hans was predeceased by his devoted mother, Emma Katerina (nee Kaucher) and father, Franz Josef; his deeply loved sister, Margaret (Gretel), one year younger; and brother-in-law, Joe. He also was predeceased by his dear son Kevin, in October 2012.
He is survived and deeply missed by his loving daughter and best friend, Marianne Bach, age 56, of Ann Arbor; his beloved nieces and nephews, Dianne (Duncan) of California and Carol (Mark) of Washington; and his loving great-niece and nephews, Elisabeth (Ovidiu), James, and Mike. Hans also leaves behind his loyal and faithful dog Dingo and cat Rusty who were devoted to keeping him warm, happy, and entertained! Hans will also be greatly missed by his many close friends, neighbors, and brothers and sisters in Christ from his church.
Mass of Christian Burial for Mr. Bach will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Jesus the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Atlanta, Father Michael Conner officiating. Visitation hours will be held on Tuesday from 4-8 p.m. at the Green Funeral Home with prayer services at 7 that evening, and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until time of service at the church. Interment with military honors will take place in the spring at Briley Township Cemetery.