Joan Bachman

1924 - 2016

H. Joan Bachman, 91, formerly of Murphy, passed away in Nampa on Aug. 5, 2016, with her daughters by her side. (Helen) Joan was the first child born to Vance and Nina (Stoddard) Rooke at Rathdrum, Idaho, on Aug. 29, 1924. Her sister, Betty, was born on Aug. 12, 1926.

The family moved to Oreana in 1928, living on Pickett Creek and the Amsy Crill Place on Castle Creek. Joan first attended grade school on Castle Creek. The family spent one summer on the Brace Ranch.

The Rookes moved to Kamiah, Idaho, in 1936 where Joan attended junior and senior high school. Her mother passed away in the fall of 1940, and her father in the spring of 1941, at which time Joan and Betty moved to Longview, Wash., to live with relatives. She graduated from high school at Longview.

After graduation, she moved to Seattle, living with family and attended IBM Computer School. She was employed in Seattle during World War II.

After the war, she relocated to Boise to live with relatives and took additional secretarial training. In 1946, she met Robert (Bob) Bachman. They were married Sept. 14, 1946.

They lived in Grand View for a short while and later moved to Oreana, where they would spend the rest of their lives together. Three children were raised in Oreana: Larry, Nina and Susan.

Joan began working for Owyhee County in the assessor's office in 1970. She ran for county treasurer in 1978 and served three full terms, retiring in 1991.

Joan moved to Murphy in 1978 after Bob passed away. She enjoyed working in her yard and volunteering for the Owyhee County Historical Society. She moved to Nampa in August 2014.

Mom was a kind and thoughtful person. Her entire life revolved around her family and what she could do to help or be supportive. She has left a huge void in our lives.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Nina Bachman Gilbert and Susan (Ralph) Williams; three grandsons, Roger (Heather) Bachman, Steve (Carmen) Bachman and Brent (Tara) Rowland; great grandchildren Brandon and Samantha Bachman and Chloe, Halee and Mikayla Jo Rowland; and one step great granddaughter, Amaia Nutting.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Bob, son Larry and wife Noreen, son-in-law Lance Gilbert and her sister Betty Carey.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Owyhee County Historical Society, 17085 Bassey St., Murphy, ID 83650 or a charity of your choice.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, at 1 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church, 400 Lake Lowell Ave. in Nampa. Interment will follow at the Melba Cemetery. A gathering and meal will follow at the Melba Legion Hall.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel, where an online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com.