Carleen H. Bach

Carleen H. Swartz Bach was lovingly supported by family and friends until she passed away August 4, 2019, at age 98 in Topeka, Kansas. Carleen "Carla" was born in Dwight, Kansas on September 7, 1920, on the family farm, a child of the Great Depression, Prohibition and Dust Bowl era. She was the daughter of John Harrison “Harry” and Birdie Lynn Crute Swartz. Carla graduated from Dwight Rural High School in 1938 and attended nursing school in Salina, Kansas. She married Michael Metzger in 1940. From this union two daughters were born. Carla was active in World War II at Boeing in Wichita, Kansas, working on the first B-52 that shipped from that plant. In 1946, Carla boarded a ship with her daughters, aged 5 and 6, and traveled to Germany to join their father who was serving in the Army. Throughout the 50’s she was a single mother who raised her children with the loving support of her family. During this time, she lived in Dwight and had two jobs: working at Fort Riley, Kansas and at the local grocery store on the weekend. Her high school classmate, Lee Bach, returning from a 20-year naval career, chanced into her grocery store in Dwight and they were reacquainted. They married in 1961, sharing 51 years of happiness together before his passing in 2012. Her government career took them to Topeka, St. Joseph, Missouri, Omaha, Nebraska, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. Carla worked primarily for the Social Security Administration. She was a member of the council that instituted the Medicare program, and while on this task force met President Johnson and President Truman. After retirement from the government, Carla continued a decade long career in estate sales management and participated in a variety of volunteer and community activities in Las Cruces and El Paso, TX, where she and Lee resided until 2008. They returned to Kansas, living in Overbrook, where many dear friendships were made. She loved people and helping those in need. Above all, Carla enjoyed visiting with her family and friends. She was known for her energy, sense of humor and generosity. Carla most recently lived at McCrite’s retirement community in Topeka. One of her activities at McCrite’s was to deliver the daily Topeka Capital-Journal to two floors in the building. She made many close friends there and enjoyed the events they shared, especially volunteer activities such as the Harvester’s project. Carla loved cooking, reading, growing things, shopping for garage sale bargains and watching sports, especially the Kansas State Wildcats and the Green Bay Packers. She welcomed adventure, riding in a hot air balloon in her 70’s, visiting Boston in her 80’s, and traveling to New Mexico and Michigan in her 90’s to visit family. Carla was a lifetime member of the Dwight Methodist Church, was a member of Overbrook Library, and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Lee; and 9 siblings, Katherine, Martin, John, twin brother, Carl, infant brother Robert Lee, Pauline “Peg”, Harriette, Billie Joyce, and Nora. She was also preceded in death by her son -in-law, Harold Fuller, grandson, Thad Fuller, and son-in-law, Allan Coon. She is survived by her two daughters, Eula Lee Metzger Fuller and Connie Marie Metzger Horne; grandchildren, Deborah Coon, Christine Lipscomb and husband Steve, Stephen Fuller, Sean Fuller and wife Amanda, Angela Horne and Laura Horne Popp; great-grandchildren, Christopher Wesley, Joshua Fontius, Jacob Fontius, and Kendall Grace Fuller; great-great grandchildren, James, Kaylee Ann, and Sophi Black; and many beloved nieces and nephews. The family is grateful for the loving care provided by the excellent staff at Midland Care – Hospice House in Topeka, KS. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Friday, August 9, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. Memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, August 10, at Dwight United Methodist Church, 501 7th Street, Dwight KS 66849, with visitation one-hour prior. Inurnment to follow in Dwight Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Dwight Methodist Church or Midland Care Hospice House, sent in care of the funeral home.

Carleen H. Bach

September 7, 1920 - August 4, 2019