From Matters of the Heart, 12/31/22

My Dad, The Patriarch, King, Phil, son, brother, uncle, cousin, husband, father, grandpa, mentor, mediator, boss, colleague, friend, neighbor. The “change” guy. An honest and dedicated family man, first and foremost. I won the lottery in the dad department. Hard working and fun. Interested and interesting. World traveler, car enthusiast, nature lover and poet. His gifts and talents reach far and stretch wide. You name it, my dad has experience with it. He’s not afraid to jump all in and is the bravest man I know. Soft and strong. His full and vibrant life speaks for itself.

He’s always been about natural consequences and not even scary catholic nuns are immune. I discovered on Christmas Eve this year that apparently he made mean old Sister Shirley cry back in the day, while protecting one of his daughters. He made the impossible possible! He takes charge and isn’t afraid to call out bullshit. Laying down the law, when necessary. Accountability. Teaching and learning from mistakes. The importance of taking responsibility and doing the right thing. He shows up for EVERYONE, even when it’s hard and uncomfortable. Compassion. He was there for the love of his life, my mom, until her very last breath. Soul mates. He made sure she was comfortable and cared for, surrounded by beauty, joy and laughter. Committed, thoughtful and present, he steps up. In sickness and in health. He takes his vows seriously. Integrity.

His best friend/cousin Billy died on 10/17/22. Bill’s family waited to have his funeral until my dad returned from an international trip and could deliver his eulogy. He has a way with words. Head and Heart working together, in alignment. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Capturing a life story, with truth and grace. One of his many talents. Here are his words, spoken on 11/12/22 and shared with his permission…

I knew Billy for his full 70 years. He was not only my cousin, but also became one of my dearest friends later in life until he passed. I knew his parents as well. Bill got some of his best traits from them that made him such a unique character. A great wit and sense of humor from his Dad, and a sense of compassion, love of family, and empathy for others from his Mom. Bill was a railroader. At least a third generation railroader. His passion for this work ran deeply within him. His work satisfied his strong work ethic, kept him outside, and provided him a good living to support his family. He was not just an outdoorsman, but a true hunter and gatherer in the spirit of his distant ancestors. He had a great respect for all wild life and loved being in all of natures presence. He was a great resource for knowledge of nature. Bill had an honest and balanced life. He was a family man first and provided well for his family through hard work and love. He was very spiritual. Not so much on religion. His beliefs were well thought out. He was a true leader and loved by many. His humor and kindness were some of the traits that made him a true leader in his life pursuits. If you were lucky enough to be his friend, he was very dedicated. He lived his life on his terms and knew who he was and who he wasn’t. Bill was a veteran and served honorably during the Vietnam war. I sense this was a challenging time for him. He was a hero to many, including the younger generations coming up behind him. Bill was a great story teller…….often telling the same story over and over. An example of this trait was the story of the “big buck” that got away over forty years ago. He told that story many times over the years, Including last year at his last deer camp in Gordon. I’m sure it will be told in his honor for many years to come. His wit and humor showed often. Another story of how to survive in the woods with one square of toilet paper. Quite entertaining! I first heard that story over 60 plus years ago at deer camp from his dad. We have many memories of Bill to comfort us and keep him alive in our hearts. He joins a galaxy of our stars that have gone to the happy hunting grounds in the heavens.

A native American poet wrote:

“Perhaps the stars in the sky are not stars but rather openings in heaven where the love of our lost ones pours down through and shines upon us to let us know they are happy. “

Rest in Peace Billy Bach.

Your loving and grateful daughter,

Gretchen Welch