Arnold W. Bachman, 103, passed away on April 11, 2025. He was born February 25, 1922 in Auburn, Iowa to Frank and Elsie Bachman. After ninth grade he left school to work on the family farm. From 1941-1942 he attended the National School of Aeronautics in Kansas City, MO and later became an instructor at the school. He served in the Philippines in the Army Air Force from 1944-1946, then worked as a mechanic for TWA until he joined the U.S. Naval Reserves.
In 1947 he met the love of his life, Wilma R. (Finney) Welch and they were married May 20, 1948. They lived in Kansas City, MO until moving to Olathe, KS where he built their family home, and he lived there until February of this year. Arnold retired from the Navy in 1964, and went to work for Ford Motor Company. He helped develop the Ford race engine that Jimmy Clark used to win the Indy 500 in 1965. He later worked on aircraft at the Johnson County Airport and on the truck fleet at Mo-Kan Concrete until he retired in 1984. He continued to operate Bachman Auto Repair from his garage, repairing cars for friends and colleagues for many years.
After retirement Arnold and Wilma volunteered together for the Salvation Army, St. Mary’s Food Kitchen, and picking up bread donations from local grocery stores for Catholic Social Services. He also volunteered for the Red Cross and delivered Meals on Wheels until in his nineties. For more than fifty years Arnold was a member of the St. Paul’s Knights of Columbus Council 1913. He served as Treasurer for many years and helped with fundraising during Lenten fish dinners, Old Settler’s food trucks, Tootsie Roll Drives, and other special events.
He was preceded in death by his wife Wilma, son Christopher, parents and three brothers, Winfred, Lornie and Larry. He is survived by two sisters, Lois and Verna, four children, Duane (CeCilia), Philip (Sun Hi), Joyce (Alvin) Bailey, and Jeanette (Russell) Magathan, thirteen grandchildren, Genevieve Bachman, Jordan (Kelsey McCullough) Bachman, Eun Mi (Jon) Turpin, Arnold Y. (Won Young) Bachman, Matthew (Jill) Bailey, Travis Bailey, Corey (Brittany) Bailey, Michael E. (Racheal) Bachman, Ashley (Jason) Robertson, Jessica (Marcus) Moore, Ryan (Danielle Hines) Bachman, Andrea Magathan and Rachel Magathan. Also survived by fifteen great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Tuesday, April 15, 2025 from 5-7pm at McGilley & Frye Funeral Home, 105 E. Loula, Olathe, KS, with rosary at 6:30 pm. Funeral mass Wednesday, April 16 at 1:00 pm at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 21650 W. 115th Terrace, Olathe, KS. Burial following at Resurrection Cemetery, 8300 Quivira Road, Lenexa, KS. Memorial donations may be made to: Salvation Army, Catholic Social Services, St. Paul’s Knights of Columbus Council 1913, or the charity of your choice.
