John T Bachar

life story

John Bachar, 74, of Grand Marais, Minnesota, passed away on October 10, 2026.

John dedicated his career to the State of Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, retiring from his work in Forestry. His commitment to caring for the land reflected the way he lived—steady, thoughtful, and deeply connected to the outdoors. He was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus.

John found joy in nature and spent countless hours fishing, camping, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, and biking. He loved cheering on the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, and he especially treasured time spent with his family. Each Christmas, John delighted in writing a family update letter to include with the cards he and Pam sent—a tradition that reflected his warmth and his desire to stay connected with those he loved.

John is survived by his wife, Pam Bachar; his sister, Mary Lee (Gary) Halseth; and his stepsons, Jason (Marice) Zimmer, Bob (Amy) Zimmer Jr., and James (April) Zimmer. He was a proud grandfather to Jason’s children, Anders, Damian, Bianca, Cayden, and Elliot; Bob’s children, Logan and Olivia; and James’s children, Adam, Cole, Avery, Ryan, Aubriella, and Marcus. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Axel and Malia.

A service honoring John’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. on November 14, 2026, at Saint John’s Catholic Church in Grand Marais, Minnesota.

His family will forever cherish the memories they shared with John and the love, steadiness, and kindness he brought into their lives.

To share a memory or leave an online condolence visit www.cavallinfuneralhome.com.