Keith Darrel Bachman was born on December 7, 1961 to Donald and Helma Bachman in Yreka. Keith passed away suddenly on September 3, 2022 at his home in Eureka.

After a short time in Yreka, Donald’s job took the family to Santa Barbara. They continued to live there until 1975. The family moved to Eureka shortly after the death of Keith’s older brother, Kersten. Keith began to attend Winship Junior High School, where he met his first wife, Carole Segura, in band class. Keith attended Eureka Senior High School where he excelled in all sports, including football, wrestling, swimming and track. He then went onto College of the Redwoods and continued to play football, as a star athlete, while studying engineering. Keith and Carole found one another again and began dating while they were both studying at College of the Redwoods. Keith went on to play division two football at UC Davis, where he was invited to play in the All American Bowl two years in a row. Keith became a regular face shown in local papers and television for his football achievements in both high school and college.

In February of 1988 they moved to Weaverville and welcomed their first son, Kert Bachman. They enjoyed life on an 80-acre property where they built their mountain home. In July of 1989, they welcomed their second son, Piers Bachman. They soon moved to Eureka to be closer to family. Keith worked in the local lumber mills, Schmidtbauer and Sierra Pacific. Keith and Carole enjoyed many years of hiking, fishing, bicycling, running and traveling. As they drifted apart, Keith moved to Redding for work. While in Redding, Keith reconnected with a childhood family friend, Laurie Tussey (Carbine) who was also going through a separation.

Keith and Laurie got married in 1998, combining their families together including Laurie’s children from a previous marriage, Larissa and Kristopher Carbine, and lived in Redding for 10 years. While in Redding, Keith, Laurie, Kert and Kristopher all lived together, shortly followed by Piers moving into the home. There was a time where Larissa was also in the family home. The family enjoyed a lot of lake trips, swimming and fishing in both Shasta and Whiskeytown Lake. They also enjoyed many skiing trips when the weather got colder. Keith and Laurie then moved up to Mount Vernon, Washington where Keith began to work at a new division of the Sierra Pacific lumber mill. Keith and Laurie enjoyed the great outdoors while living in Washington. Many hiking, boating and fishing trips were enjoyed over the years. Laurie turned into the great love of Keith’s life. She truly brought out the best in him. Laurie’s sudden passing in September of 2014 truly rocked Keith to his core. He never fully recovered from her death.

After Laurie’s death, Keith moved back to Eureka to be closer to his family and to help with his parents. Keith married Kim Pinches of Eureka in August of 2017. They bonded over their shared love for all things Humboldt after having both grown up on the North Coast. They shared a love for camping, road trips, swimming in the Mad River, their pets, current events, local history and local art. As a testament to the fact that everyone who met Keith liked him was the harbor seal he made friends with during Keith and Kim’s honeymoon trip to Orcas Island. Everyday when he swam in the sound the same harbor seal would come several hundred yards closer to shore and rise up in the water to get a better look. Keith met Kim at a time when his sense of humor, strength and dedication to family was exactly what she needed. 

Our time with Keith was too short but his care, love and positive impact on his family and friends will live on. In 2015 a long successful career in mill work ended, mostly with Sierra Pacific Industries. He transitioned to driving for The PACE Program with The Humboldt Senior Resource Center and it was his job to deliver the program participants to appointments and The Day Program at the Center. He delivered food and medicine and helped in any way he could to support the participants and their families with his characteristic, warmth, good humor and love for other people that radiated from Keith. 

Keith is preceded in death by his parents Donald and Helma Bachman, his older brother Kersten Bachman and his second wife Laurie Bachman. He is survived by his third wife Kim Pinches and her daughter Emma Pinches and Kim’s parents Christopher and Doralee Smith. His sons Kert and Piers Bachman and their mother Carole Segura. Kert’s wife, Samantha and their children Zoey, Sophia and Warren. His step-children Larissa and Kristopher Carbine. Keith’s uncle Tom Bachman and his wife Myonsuk and their children Shana and Natasha Bachman. His uncle Jim and his wife Rose Bachman, and their children Laura Beth, Andrea and Julie Malone.

Keith’s memorial has been planned for October 29, 2022 at the Wharfinger Building in Eureka from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. The Bachman family invites you to bring your memories of Keith and share them with his family and friends. Please reach out to bachmanfamilytrust@gmail.com with any questions about the memorial.

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The obituary above was submitted by Keith Bachman’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.