BROWNSTOWN — A Lutheran school teacher for 42 years, a church organist for 40 years, a loving husband for 64 years and a devoted follower of Jesus Christ throughout his life. One of the many qualities Ray Bachmann carries is his dedication.

Bachmann turned 90 years old Wednesday and his large family from all over the U.S. travelled here last Sunday to celebrate with cake and ice cream at Hoosier Christian Village.

Bachmann, the son of Ernst and Emma Bachmann, was born at home on June 19, 1934, in Farrar, Perry County, Missouri. He was the middle child of three older brothers Orville, Norman and Vernold (all deceased) and three younger sisters Aldine, Loretta and Euline.

He lived on a 160-acre farm that grew corn, wheat, barley and hay as well as dozens of cows, some pigs and several hundred chickens. During this time, mules and horses were used for farming until the Bachmanns bought their first tractor — a John Deere Model B — after World War II in 1946. On the farm, Bachmann found many Indian arrowheads, eventually building a collection of about 100.

In a book recounting all of his memories, Bachmann said during WWII the family needed to ration and bought stamps to buy gasoline, sugar, coffee and other items. The family car, a 1930 Ford Model A, was driven only to church and the general store, occasionally making a special trip to Perryville.

Scrap iron was collected during this time and used for war purposes. Bachmann recalled a pile of scrap iron beside his school growing up and his brother, Orville, leaving for the military during this time. Bachmann wrote many letters to Orville that were sent by airmail before he safely returned from war.

Bachmann remembers walking their driveway that was one and four-tenths of a mile to school every day. As a child, he practiced on a foot-pump organ and received lessons at 75 cents for each one at school.

In 1946, Bachmann’s family home received electricity. For the first couple of months, Bachmann looked at the meter every morning before school as it was a topic of conversation with the neighborhood boys to compare how much electricity they used.

As a confirmation gift from his sponsor, Bachmann received a Holy Bible with his name and the date, 1948, imprinted on the cover. Inside was a thoughtful message from his sponsor, Ida.

“Dear Raymond, Now that you have given your youthful heart to God may time never dim this sweet communion that you feel today, and as you turn your thoughts to Him on the daily path of your life may you let Him walk with you always and He will bless you richly a happy lifetime through.”

Bachmann was part of the Future Farmers of America (now known as FFA) organization throughout high school and was treasurer his senior year. Besides his memories of square dancing, he also remembers being awarded the State Farmer Degree.

Greg Tormoehlen of Brownstown, who married Ray’s youngest daughter Esther, who is now deceased, also was in FFA and received his State Farmer Degree in 1976. Bachmann’s granddaughter and Greg and Esther’s daughter, Lynn Tormoehlen, also was in FFA in Washington County, Kentucky, where she also received her State Farmer Degree in 2021.

“Three different states and three generations,” Greg said.

While all the FFA jackets haven’t strayed from the classic navy-blue corduroy material, Bachmann’s jacket is a tad faded to a light blue. Bachmann proudly wore his FFA jacket to the 65-year Perryville High School reunion.

One of Bachmann’s cherished memories is the meal-time traditions with his family. His father often led a prayer in German before the meal began. During dinner, conversations were often in a mix of German and English ending with a page-long evening prayer in German read by his mother.

“No one left the table until she read it,” he said.

He continued piano and organ lessons at Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, Illinois, in 1952 where he also obtained his teaching degree and met his wife, Annette, who is now deceased.

Bachmann recalled the first time he went to the Teacher’s College he hitchhiked from his hometown to the college, something at the time he wasn’t really worried about.

After graduating from college on June 8, 1956, with his college sweetheart, they decided to get married the following day while family was in town.

“She was very beautiful and helpful,” Bachmann said. “A very kind Christian lady.”

He began his teaching career in the small town of Strasburg, Illinois, where he taught fifth through eighth grade. He also served as a church organist, choir director and youth counselor at St. Paul Lutheran Church there for three years.

Bachmann was called to serve at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Louisville, Kentucky, from 1959 to 1962 where his daughter, Esther, was born.

As a seasoned educator, Bachmann moved around to many different schools throughout the years, but his longest tenure was at Lutheran Central School in Brownstown from 1974 to 1998. During the 1985-86 school year, Bachmann took his class to Skyline Drive to see Halley’s Comet, its first appearance since 1910.

Bachmann also served as the organist and choir director at St. Paul Lutheran Church at Wegan in Brownstown from 1974 until several years after he retired.

Besides playing the organ, Bachmann served in various positions and committees in Jackson County throughout his years. He was a member of the Bicentennial Planning Committee for the Bicentennial celebration of Brownstown, Jackson County and Indiana, all observed in 2016.

He devoted countless hours of his time as president and secretary working on numerous committees for the Jackson County History Center. He also was elected and served in three positions in the Indiana District of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, and served for six years in each position.

For more than 20 years, he was the president of AAL Branch 604 at Wegan before it changed to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

One of his daughters, Becky Spurgeon, has fond memories of camping at state parks, discovering different plants and flowers and being referred to as a loquacious (talkative) bundle of femininity by her dad.

“We had a good childhood and they always kept us busy,” she said. “They were big on learning, and I got my love of gardening from him.”

When Bachmann’s wife had a stroke and was unable to take care of her, she went to the nursing home, but it did not stop him from visiting her every day.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the couple ate lunch together separated by a window sharing handwritten messages that reminded them of their love for Jesus and for each other. She passed away in 2020.

Spurgeon said because of her mother and father, she was taught a good work ethic and the importance of family.

“They made me the person I am today,” she said. “I try to live a good life and be a good person.”

Bachmann said overall he would like to be remembered as a devoted follower of Christ.

“I was a big sinner, but Jesus is my savior,” he said.