Jean Eileen Bachman, 91, of Chenoa, formerly of Heyworth, passed away at 11:31 a.m. Monday (Jan. 23, 2017) at Meadows Mennonite Retirement Community, rural Chenoa.

 

She was born on March 23, 1925, in Fort Wayne, Ind., to Samuel and Viola I. Roszhart Rediger.

 

As a young child, she moved to Meadows and graduated from Chenoa High School. Jean met Roy Bachman at the Eureka Pumpkin Festival, and they later married in 1946. She took great joy in the role as a farm wife and mother to their nine children. They had been married 36 years when Roy passed away in 1983.

 

She is survived by her children, Linda (Paul) Woith, Normal; Leroy (Ethel) Bachman, Auburn; Peter (Connie) Bachman, Lexington; Connie (Calvin) Schick, Ruth (Joe) Haney and Roger Bachman, all of Bloomington; Gary (Linda) Bachman, Hudson; and Phillip (Rhonda) Bachman, Heyworth; 17 grandchildren, Jeff Woith, Tami Cappos, Melissa Courtney-Willis, Chris Bachman, Kim Berg, Cara Penn, Stacy Haney-Strnad, Tony Haney, Eric Haney, Roger Bachman, Ben Bachman, Megan Bachman, Christina Messerschmidt, Noah Bachman, Katie Bachman, Jacob Bachman and Audra Bachman; 26 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

 

She was preceded in death by her parents; infant sister, Betty; and son, Marlin.

 

Jean was a member of the Calvary Mennonite Church of Washington and later the Meadows Mennonite Church. She is remembered by her family and friends for her love of baking, gardening, her joyful laughter and spending time with her grandkids. She will be forever missed and held in the hearts of those who knew her.

 

Her memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Mennonite Church of Normal with Pastor Tim Schrag officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to her service at the church. Burial will be at 3 p.m. Monday in Stewart Harmony Cemetery, rural Metamora. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Community Cancer Center or Meadows Mennonite Nursing Home. Mason Funeral Home, Metamora, is handling arrangements.