Larry Bachman

Larry Dean Bachman, 64, of Manchester, Iowa, formerly of Oelwein, Iowa, and Aurora, Illinois, passed away on December 7, 2025.

He was born on January 17, 1961, in Oelwein, Iowa, to LaVern Bachman and Donna (née Raatz) Bachman.

Larry grew up on the family farm outside of Oelwein. He graduated from West Central High School, Hawkeye Institute of Technology, and Iowa State University, where he earned a degree in Agricultural Business in 1985.

In 1987, Larry moved to Aurora, Illinois, where he and his wife, Ann, started their family and welcomed the birth of their son, Tyler, in 1992. Larry resided in Illinois until 2019. He and his wife, Josephine (née Dowling), moved to Lake Delhi near Manchester, Iowa, and were married in 2021.

Larry was an incredible father to his son, Tyler. He always made time to attend his sons' sporting events, to be there when his band played a show, or to enjoy a new experience together. He was a loving husband to Josephine, traveling with her to many new places and exploring the world. Larry was an avid fan of Iowa State Cyclones football and basketball and enjoyed attending games, as well as watching them on television with his family. He had attended a game with Tyler just weeks prior to his passing (a Cyclone football win over Kansas!).

Larry remained active throughout his entire life. He loved riding his bicycle on RAGBRAI, riding motorcycles, driving his wave runner, boat, snowmobiles, and playing volleyball. He enjoyed fishing, water skiing, attending live music events, and local festivals. With Josephine, Larry loved to explore new places that time had not allowed him to see before he retired. They would always look for new places they had never visited, particularly in the state of Iowa, such as Maquoketa Caves State Park, Decorah Ice Cave, and the Pella Tulip Festival. Larry truly enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially with friends in his "meetup group" back in Illinois and enjoying summers at the family cabin in Annandale, Minnesota. He worked in mortgage loan services for much of his career and embraced his "retirement" after returning to Iowa from Illinois, where he farmed part of the year near Oelwein. His family often joked about how Larry loved to "play in the dirt," driving the tractor and farming the way he did as a young man. He was very happy and proud to spend his final years working with his good friends, Kent and Sheila Reinking, and their family.

Family meant everything to Larry. He cherished time spent with his wife, Josephine; his son, Tyler and wife, Rachel; his stepchildren, Linsey, Annie, and Nick; his siblings and their spouses, Verna, Ken, Eric, Travis, Nancy, Wayne, and Beth; his niece, Lauren and her husband, Conner; his nephew, Adam and wife, Allie; and so many other extended family members he loved to visit with over the years.

Larry is survived by his wife, Josephine (née Dowling) Bachman of Manchester, Iowa; his son, Tyler (Rachel, née Giles) Bachman of Sugar Grove, Illinois; his stepson, Nick (Grace, née Young) Dowling of Temecula, California; his stepdaughters, Linsey Dowling of Naperville, Illinois, and Annie Dowling of Lombard, Illinois; his sister, Verna (Ken) McNeal-White of Urbandale, Iowa; his brother, Travis (Nancy, née Fettkether) Bachman of The Villages, Florida; his sister-in-law, Beth Bachman of Waverly, Iowa; his niece, Lauren (Conner) McCool of Des Moines, Iowa; his nephew, Adam (Allie, née Rath) Barth of Urbana, Iowa; and extended family David and Cathey Barth of Robins, Iowa, and Ann Bachman-McIntosh and Scott McIntosh of Aurora, Illinois.

He was preceded in death by his parents, LaVern and Donna (née Raatz) Bachman; his brother, Wayne Bachman; and his brother-in-law, Eric McNeal.

A celebration of life will be held in Iowa on Thursday, December 18, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the American Legion Ross Reid Post #9, 108 1st. St. SW, Oelwein, Iowa, 50662.

As Larry had many friends and family in Illinois, a second celebration of life will be held near the Chicagoland area at a later date after the holidays.

Larry's family would like to thank Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Urbandale, Iowa, who lovingly prepared him for the Kingdom of Heaven.