David Bachmann

David was born in his family home in Bonesteel, SD, on March 19, 1941, to Jake and Bertha (Bruce) Bachmann, the sixth of ten children: Wally, Gordy, Janice, Loris, Jack, Ted, Henry ‘Hank’, Hazel ‘Liz’, and Jim ’Zeke’. His family lived in the Bonesteel area before moving to the farm south of Gregory, SD. As a boy, David attended school in Gregory.

David married Judith Knudsen in 1961. To this union four children were born, Lisa, Debra, Rod and Dawna. He worked as a mechanic at Schoenfelder Chevrolet until he packed up the whole family, with sister Liz in tow, and moved to Tampa, FL in 1967.

David continued working as a mechanic his entire life, for a Ford dealership and then Hertz, along with many, many years of ‘backyard mechanic’ work for his friends and family. He eventually retired in 2006 due to health issues.

David married Smokie Bell in 2015, in Tampa, FL. They shared a home there for many years.

He was an avid Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan and season ticket holder. He also enjoyed watching NASCAR and attending the associated neighborhood parties with like-minded friends. David spent countless evenings after work drinking beverages with the many friends and family members that stopped by to shoot the breeze in his garage area behind his home.

David Lee Bachmann, age 79, of Tampa, FL, passed away in his home on Wednesday, February 17, 2021.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Bertha, two brothers, Hank and Zeke, and sister Loris.

David is survived by wife Smokie of Tampa, FL; four children: Lisa (John) Halverson of Winner, SD, Debra (Randy) Boersma of Tampa, FL, Rod Bachmann of Tampa, FL, and Dawna (Walt) Heidt of Tampa, FL; two step-daughters: Cindy and Patty; four brothers: Wally Bachmann of Colome, SD, Gordy Bachmann of Tacoma, WA, Jack Bachmann of Winner, SD, Ted Bachmann of Puyallup, WA; two sisters: Janice Lynn of Spring Hills, FL and Liz Couch of New Port Richey, FL; 11 grandchildren: Brooke, Michael, Robert, Nancy, Walt, Nikki, Heather, Hope, Noah, Courtney, and Shania; and nine great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to be held at a later date.