The wake for Father Arthur A. Bacher will begin with vespers at 3 p.m. June 4 in St. Victor Church, 3435 Everett Road, Richfield. Bishop Edward Malesic will preside and Father Charles Stollenwerk will be the homilist. The wake continues until 7 p.m.
Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries will celebrate Father Bacher’s funeral Mass at 11 a.m. June 5 in St. Victor Church with Father Jim Maloney as homilist.
Father Bacher, 92, died on May 29.
He was born to the late Andrew and Hilda (Newkome) Bacher on April 14, 1929 and was preceded in death by his brother, Msgr. Robert Bacher.
Father Bacher was educated at St. Martha School in Akron; St. Charles High School and St. Charles College, both in Baltimore, Maryland; and Saint Mary Seminary in Cleveland. On Dec. 18, 1954 in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, he was ordained to the priesthood for service to the Diocese of Cleveland by Archbishop Edward Hoban.
His first assignment was as parochial vicar of St. Bernadette Parish in Westlake. On June 21 1960, he was transferred to serve as parochial vicar of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Medina. In addition, he was appointed to serve as director of CYO Wooster Deanery, effective Oct. 3, 1960. He was reappointed on Sept. 14, 1964.
Father Bacher was assigned as parochial vicar of Annunciation Parish in Akron on Sept. 14, 1965. During that assignment, he also served on the Board of Directors for Disciplinary Matter for Saint Mary Seminary. On Sept. 2, 1969, he was appointed to serve Saint Mary Seminary as a faculty member. Father Bacher was appointed treasurer and procurator of Saint Mary Seminary on July 16, 1970. In addition, he served as a prosynodal judge for the Diocesan Tribunal, effective April 21, 1971.
On June 17, 1974, Father Bacher was appointed pastor of St. Louis Parish in Cleveland Heights. During this assignment, he served on the Board of Deputies for Saint Mary Seminary, as a dean and consultor (1980-1983) and he was reappointed to a 10-year term as prosynodal judge for the Diocesan Tribunal, effective June 30, 1982.
Father Bacher was appointed pastor of St Victor Parish in Richfield on Oct. 20, 1986, a position he retained until his retirement on June 13, 2000, when he became pastor emeritus.
On March 25, 2002, he was assigned as administrator pro tem of St. Colette Parish in Brunswick.
Those who knew him said Father Bacher enjoyed his priesthood and served faithfully when called upon well into his retirement. They said his kind and gentle disposition would be missed by many.
Interment will be at All Saints Cemetery.