William Bruce Bach, 72

William “Bruce” Bach passed Jan. 27, 2023, after a hard battle with Lewy body dementia. Bruce fought like a champ because he was one. A handsome, true gentleman who was the quiet listener and owned the quality of endless patience. Yet, family and close friends will fondly remember his grand sense of humor, for his intelligence and quick wit made him the king of one liners. Bruce was fearless and loved by many.

Born in Salt Lake City, Bruce spent his early years living between Salt Lake City and Half Moon Bay. As a boy he loved spending time with his aunts and uncles on their Wyoming ranches. As a young man he attended college in Boulder, Colo., earning a degree in electrical engineering, and he later put those skills to work in radio and television production in Park City, Utah, as a sound engineer and cameraman. He was also a meticulous master carpenter who could build a home from the ground up and fix just about anything. Bruce moved to Del Mar, Calif., in 1989, where he met his future wife, Carol Hart. Bruce was immediately adopted into the loving Hart family. He and Carol married in 1991 on the bluffs of Torrey Pines. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Coeur d’Alene, where Bruce worked for a brief time in construction until he was hired on by the state as a technician in Public Safety Communications for the Bureau Of Homeland Security. He worked closely with law enforcement and so enjoyed the many people he worked with who referred to him as “radioman."

Life in Coeur d’Alene was special for Bruce as he enjoyed his many friends and hobbies. Camping and fly fishing along the Coeur d’Alene River was his favorite pastime for many years. He built a beautiful lake front home in Squaw Bay on Lake Coeur d’ Alene where he loved to spend his weekends on the dock and decks, cooking up great meals (chili rellenos were everyone’s favorite) and entertaining his friends with the newest music he had discovered. An accomplished photographer, his photos all tell a story, which we are grateful to have, in addition to the DVDs he created of his many travels with friends. But it was his black Corvette that he really loved. He was like a kid in a candy store when he drove that car and showed it off to everyone whether they were interested or not.

Bruce is survived by his loving wife, Carol, and children Jesse Bach (Tracey), Addieville Ill.; Lauren Bach Murray (Jeremy), Kaiserslautern, Germany; Daniel Bach, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and Julianna Bach, Los Angeles, Calif.; and his precious grandchildren, Zoe Murray, Beatrice and Henry Bach. He also leaves behind his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Wendy Hart (Princeville, Kauai), nephew Rob Hart (Costa Mesa, Calif.), Nicholas and wife Annie Hart (Princeville, Kauai).

Per Bruce’s wishes, the family has planned a small private ceremony. The family thanks Dr. Susan Meilchiore, Hospice of North Idaho, the Schneidmiller House and Ryan with Coeur d’Alene Cremation and Funeral for their incredible support.

Bruce will be deeply missed but forever alive in our hearts and memories. We thank him for the love, support and happiness he selflessly bestowed upon us all throughout the years.