Stephen "Steve" F. Bachand

Stephen "Steve" F. Bachand, 94, lifelong Superior area resident, died Thursday, July 14, 2011 at St. Luke’s Hospital in Duluth.
He was born on March 30, 1917 in Superior, WI, the son of William and Elizabeth (Sweeney) Bachand.
He married Helen Gordon on July 23, 1941 in Superior, WI and would have celebrated seventy years of marriage.

Steve was a lifetime member of Cathedral of Christ the King and served as an usher. He was a member of the Superior Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters.


He graduated from Cathedral High School and received his BA and Masters Degree in History from University of Wisconsin-Superior.

Steve served his country during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps. He coached and taught at the former Cathedral High School and then taught at Duluth Cathedral when the Superior Cathedral High School was discontinued. He was employed by the City of Superior as the Parks and Recreation Department Director until his retirement. Stephen was an avid sports fan, loved to travel and considered himself a “gentleman farmer”.

Steve is survived by his wife, Helen; two daughters, Betsy (Charles) Buran, Iron River, WI, Lucy (Terry) Bishop, Superior, WI; two sons, Col. Stephen M. (Col. Nancy) Bachand, retired U.S. Air Force dentists, Col. Dr. William R. (Rhonda) Bachand, stationed with the U.S. Army Dental Corps Heidelberg Germany; ten grandchildren, Chris and Eric Bachand, Chad and Michael Buran, Stephanie Ronchi, Nicholas Bachand, Christine States and Elizabeth Bachand, Nicole Johnson and Phillip Bishop and eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Bernice Olenski and Margaret “Peggy” (Paul) Werth, both of Superior.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Elizabeth Bachand, one brother, Terry Bachand and one sister, Louise Olens.

Coach Bachand was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions some of which include 1969 Chequamegon Area Coach of the Year; inducted in 1996 into the Superior Athletic Hall of Fame; in 2005 into the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame; in 2010 Coach Bachand and his 1952 Football Team were inducted into the Superior Athletic Hall of Fame for a season in which the team was unscored upon. Final score Cathedral Panthers 186: opponents 0. He was the recipient of the first Lumen Christi Award presented by the Cathedral School in 2010.

Visitation will begin at 5:00 PM and a scripture service to be held at 6:30 PM on Sunday, July 17, 2011 at the Downs-LeSage Funeral Home, 1304 Hammond Avenue, Superior.

Visitation will resume at 9:30 AM, Monday, July 18, 2011 at Cathedral of Christ the King Catholic Church and continue until the 10:30 AM Mass of Christian Burial with Rev. Fr. Andrew Ricci as celebrant.

Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Superior.

Pallbearers for the service will be Stephen’s grandsons, Chris, Nick and Eric Bachand, Phil Bishop, and Mike and Chad Buran.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cathedral School in memory of Steve Bachand.

To leave an online condolence or to sign the guestbook, please visit www.downs-lesage.com.