Gerald J. “Jerry” Bach, Sr.

Gerald J. “Jerry” Bach, Sr., age 94 of Morenci, passed away peacefully at his residence on Monday, March 15, 2021. He was born in Lorain, Ohio on August 29, 1926, the son of John J. and Margaret (Lescher) Bach. Jerry proudly served his country in the United States Army; and on March 3, 1948, he married Lucy Jane Smyth in Murray, Ky., and she preceded him in death on September 14, 2016. Together, they had 12 children.

Jerry was a teacher of music his entire career. He taught for approximately 12 years at LaGrove Schools in Farina, Ill.  From there, he taught at Morenci for approximately four years, and retired from Tecumseh Schools after 16 years.

 
Aside from teaching, Jerry and his wife owned the former LBJ Whatever General Store (which started as a flea market) on Main Street in Morenci from the 1990s until 2005.  The name stemmed from their names, Lucy, Bach, and Jerry; and the store sold many items, including wooden items made by Jerry himself. 

Jerry was a member of the Morenci American Legion Post 368, the United Veteran Council, the 40 & 8, Veteran’s Executive Affairs, and the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.  Apart from music, he was a scouting master, loved baseball, hunting, fishing, coin collecting, and woodworking. 

Left to cherish his memory are sons, Gerald, Jr. (Judy), Robert (Kelly), Peter, Sr. (Candy), James, and Thomas (Christine); daughters, Margaret (Edward) Hill, Cynthia (Dale) Fisher, Mary Jane (Kearney) Neal, Theresa Perrault, and Gena Sproul; a sister, Beatrice Hovinetz; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death along with his parents and wife is daughter, Grace; a son, John; granddaughter, Roxanne; a brother, Raymond (Mary Ann); and a brother-in-law, John Hovinetz.

Visitation for Jerry will be held at the Eagle-Marry Funeral Home – Morenci Chapel, on Thursday, March 18, from 2–4 p.m. and 6–8 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m.  A Mass of Resurrection will be held at St. Caspar Catholic Church in Wauseon on Friday, March 19, at 11 p.m. with Father Todd Dominique as Celebrant.  Interment will follow in Our Lady of Fatima Cemetery in Lyons, with military rites accorded by the Morenci American Legion Post 368 Honor Guard.

Memorial gifts in Jerry’s memory may be directed to the American Cancer Society or St. Caspar Catholic Church. Online condolences to the family may be offered at eaglemarryfuneralhome.com. The Eagle-Marry Funeral Home – Morenci Chapel has been entrusted with Jerry’s care and arrangements.