Pure Cremation Wisconsin

Jacolyn Bach

Jacolyn Rae “Jackie” Strang arrived on this earth on April 14, 1954, born to Mildred (Heydon) and LaVerne Strang. Jackie was born when her mother was 45 years old and was the youngest of nine children. As the baby of the family—five years younger than her closest-in-age brother and the first girl in 17 years—she shared a very close bond with her mother, Millie.

Jackie grew up romping around the banks of Black Earth Creek, surrounded by animals from the family farm and many kittens and puppies. She was often referred to as her mother’s shadow, always by her side. Because many of her siblings were quite a bit older—she was only two years old when the first grandchild was born—she often felt more like the oldest of the grandchildren group than the youngest of her siblings.

Jackie excelled in school and played the cornet, guitar, snare drum, and her favorite instrument, the piano. She was a cheerleader and a member of chorus and German Club, and she played organ and sang in a high school rock band, “The Void.” She was crowned Wisconsin Heights High School Junior Prom Queen in 1971 and graduated in 1972. Some of her fondest memories were of weekends filled with her siblings and their families’ singing hymns in harmony around the piano, yodeling, and performing old country western songs.

Jackie began working for the Division of Motor Vehicle at the Wisconsin Department of Transportation in June 1972. Soon after, she purchased her first car—a purple Dodge Challenger affectionately named Claybourne.

In 1973 she met her future husband, Bernie, through a mutual friend. Bernie was five years older, and she said, “he was cute, and had very handsome arms” (yes, arms). She appreciated that he was older/mature, different (being from Milwaukee), could speak German, and wanted to make her happy.  The couple married on May 3, 1975, and settled in Black Earth. Jackie enjoyed camping, gardening, and crocheting during their early married years.

Jackie and Bernie waited eight years before becoming parents, perhaps influenced by their own large-family upbringings. But after meeting her niece Heather in 1980, Jackie felt the “bug” to have a baby. In 1983 they welcomed their one and only child, Taiya Renae. Much like Jackie had been with her own mother, Taiya became her constant companion, and life was good.

On a warm October day in 1990, the family experienced a tragic accident that left Jackie a quadriplegic. Their lives were forever changed. Jackie spent about six months in the hospital, learning to live without the use of her legs, her fingers, and with damaged vocal cords. She was able to go home for a visit on Christmas morning, and though her voice had previously been only a whisper, it returned that very day.

After leaving the hospital, the family built a handicapped-accessible home next door to her parents just outside of Black Earth. Jackie continued working for the DOT from home—long before working remotely was a ‘thing’—and retired in 2012 after 40 years of service, having made many good friends along the way.

The family spent many summers at a permanent campsite on weekends. She and Bernie could often be found down by the creek in their backyard, enjoying morning coffee or an evening beer. Jackie became a vegetarian in 1994, a decision she was very proud of and that continued with her daughter and grandchildren.

She took great joy in watching Taiya grow up, pursue college and graduate school, and travel to far more places than she could. Jackie often said her most important purpose in life was to be a mother. She continued this motherly love as a grandmother, affectionately known as “Gabby” after her granddaughter struggled to say “Grandma”—and the name stuck. Gabby adored her grandchildren, and the feeling was mutual. Special memories include lying in bed together during sleepovers, sharing sweets, watching TV, and many of thrilling rides up and down the hallway in her powerchair.

Jackie’s strong and quiet faith remained with her throughout her life. She often shared that in the first days after her accident, a warm voice reassured her she would be okay—and she was. After Bernie passed in 2019, she always felt he was still right by her side.

In her later years, Jackie could be found online shopping (she was pretty internet savvy), keeping up with her daily spiritual readings, trying out perfumes and various face creams, tending to her ever growing house plant collection, and playing her music at what visitors considered an unreasonably loud volume. She loved Christmas and especially Christmas Eve gatherings at the family home, a tradition since 1983. Always humble, positive, grateful, and a good listener, Jackie touched countless lives. Her wry sense of humor remained intact to the end. When Taiya commented on her poor timing in getting sick, Jackie quipped, “I know, I knew I should have gotten a haircut.”

On Sunday morning, February 22, 2026, after a brief stay at St. Mary’s Hospital for pneumonia, Jackie, age 71, slipped quietly away to the home of her Lord, with her Taiya at her side.

Jackie was no doubt welcomed into Heaven’s gates by her husband Bernie; her parents; her in-laws, Leo and Emma Bach; her brother Dale; her sister Carol and husband John Parkin; her brothers- and sisters-in-law Irv Williams, Don Nesvacil, and Janney Strang; her special niece Heidi Strang; nephew Joe Strang; niece-in-law Linda Fergien; her longtime caregiver and friend, Debbie Buchs; and her 21yr old kitty, Amanda Jean.

Jackie leaves behind her beloved daughter and best friend, Taiya and her cherished grandchildren, Natan and Talia Streiffer of Monona; her sisters Shirley Williams and Avis Nesvacil; her brothers Bill (June Harrington), Jimmy (Susie), David (Marlene), and Larry (Vicky Brodt) Strang; special niece Lorrie Parkin; her recently adopted kitty, Melissa; and many other dear friends and relatives.

Taiya extends heartfelt thanks to Dr. Livingstone of St. Mary’s Hospitalist Service for her compassionate care; to Dr. Randall Haas, Jackie’s longtime (now retired) primary care physician; to her extended family who helped Jackie maintain her independence along the way, to her many caregivers over the years; and to her current crew—Sandy Williams, Sherri Dibble, Cilyr Edington, Amy Owen, Hannah Evert, Kelli Kahl, and Carol Mortrud— she loved and appreciated you all.

Momma, may you be running at full speed ahead, never looking back.And Jackie’s advice to Taiya (and everyone): “And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.”
*“…I see the lights of the villageGleam through the rain and the mist,And a feeling of sadness comes o’er meThat my soul cannot resist:
A feeling of sadness and longing,That is not akin to pain,And resembles sorrow onlyAs the mist resembles the rain…”*— from “The Day is Done,” H.W. Longfellow

Memorials may be made to Alliance for Animals in Madison, or to any animal organization of your choosing.
A celebration of life will be held at a later (and warmer) date.
Pure Cremation Wisconsin is assisting the family, www.purecremationwi.com

When words can’t fully express what we want to say, sometimes a small gift can. Visit our Memorial Store for personalised gifts, keepsake jewellery and to plant a memorial tree.

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Jacolyn Bach Obituary | Pure Cremation Wisconsin