Kurt Elroy Bachert

Kurt grew up in Chicago playing stick ball in the streets that were lined with Brownstones where he lived. By college time, his father was transferred, so Kurt graduated from the University of Omaha with a business major.     

While in college, he was a part of the management training program at Sears & Robuck.  This is also where he met his soon to be wife, Dianna. While working his way up the corporate ladder, several store and state transfers, and 2 children later, Kurt and Dianna found themselves in Fayetteville, Arkansas at the brand new Sears store!!  The Northwest Arkansas Mall was still under construction. After a couple of years in the area, he could see the writing on the wall for another transfer.  Kurt and Dianna decided that Northwest Arkansas was the perfect place to raise their children, Jennifer and Travis. So, Kurt gave up the corporate management life and he worked for  a few years in real estate and even was the contractor for building a couple of new homes.

Then the magic year was 1978.  Rogers Furniture & Appliance became one with the Bachert family.  Even Kurt’s parents, Al and Kay, retired from up North in Chicago and moved to Arkansas. Eventually they worked for Kurt. Papa Al took care of the books until he was 90 years old. The store name was soon changed to “Kurt’s Furniture” and had several remodels over the 38 years in business.     

Kurt and Dianna were blessed with many trips abroad thanks to GE and Simmons Bedding. They traveled to Spain, Italy, Morocco, France, Norway, Ireland, Monte Carlo, Hong Kong, Thailand, and Italy.  Many wonderful memories and laughs were shared with fellow Arkansas furniture dealers. 

Kurt volunteered for over 10 years with the Glad Bag-a-thon clean up for Beaver Lake.    

Kurt enjoyed being on the board of the Arkansas Furniture Association and was President  in 1993. It was great to work and get to know the other furniture dealers in Arkansas.      

Kurt has been a member of the Rogers/Lowell Chamber of Commerce for 38 years.  In 2003, Kurt’s Furniture won the Small Business of the Year Award.      

Kurt has been very active in his church, from council member to President.  He headed up building committees twice. 

Kurt lead by example in all that he did.  He had a strong faith in Christ and a caring, giving heart that extends out to how he ran his business.    

Kurt’s great sense of humor influenced all around him! He showed that laughter can help, even in the toughest of situations. So if while we are in mourning for him, you hear our family laughing and being the loudest in a restaurant, that is exactly how he would have wanted us to be.

He is survived by his wife, Dianna Bachert of 52 years; daughter, Jennifer Brown and her husband, Steve; son, Travis Bachert and his wife, Deanna; grandchildren, Georgia and Tanner Brown, Brandon and Annabella Bachert all blessed to live within 15 minutes of each other, sister, Karel Seddon and husband, Ken of Michigan; brother, Bruce Bachert and wife, Bonnie of California; 19 nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Kathie Fagen and her husband, Bob of Nebraska; brother-in-law, Russ and his wife, Debbie of Nebraska; and 13 nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held at 2pm, Saturday, March 3, 2018 at First Christian Church, 905 S. 13^th St. Rogers, AR 72758 with Pastor Richard Solberg officiating.

Memorials may be made to the Children’s advocacy Center, 2113 Little Flock Dr. Rogers, AR 72756.