This week’s Sammi’s Sunday Scoop will be a little different as we navigate through my grandfather's illness. We aren’t highlighting any product, but rather the man who made all of this possible—my grandpa, Josef Bachmann. His hard work, determination, and love for his family built not only businesses, but the very foundation of our lives.

Tonight, I was asked, “Is there anything specific that you will always remember about your grandpa?”

I will always remember his hands.

His hands built this life for our family. His hands kneaded more dough than I will ever know, shaping the loaves that fed not just customers, but a dream. His hands mowed the lawns in Gunnison and Florida, always tending to what he had worked so hard to create. His hands held mine as we walked into church, a quiet but unwavering presence of love and faith.

My grandpa, Josef Bachmann, is the hardest working man I have ever known. He came to America in 1960 with nothing but his skill, determination, and the dream of a better life. Before he left, he met my grandma and told her, “Don’t fall for me because I’m going to America.” Without hesitation, she responded, “Okay, I’ll come too.” And if you know Marlis Bachmann, that response wouldn’t surprise you one bit.

They landed in Chicago, where my grandpa, a Mëister Baker, started working at Bernie Brothers Bakery. After long shifts, he would drive around the city, parking outside other bakeries to count customers, studying which ones thrived and why. One of those bakeries was Ackermann’s. One day, he walked in, introduced himself to Mr. Ackermann, and boldly asked to be his partner. Mr. Ackermann looked at him and asked, “What do you have to offer me?” My grandpa laid out his big, strong, German hands and simply said, “I have these.” And that was reason enough.

As the American dream goes, my grandparents eventually bought that business and the building it sat in. But my grandpa always dreamed of the West, of cowboys and wide-open spaces. And so, west they went.

They found success in Gunnison with the Best Western Tomichi Village and Josef’s, but the move to Buena Vista is what shaped my childhood. Because of my grandparents, I had a childhood straight out of a storybook. They lived just over the hill, which meant they were there for everything. Winters were spent shoveling the parking lot of the hotel with my grandpa, something I now cherish more than ever. I can still picture them pulling up under the awning, our dog Chelsea running out to greet them, knowing that with their arrival came warmth, love, and maybe a special treat hidden in my grandma’s purse.

Some of my sweetest memories are of the quiet mornings at their dining room table, learning arithmetic with my grandpa. He had a way of teaching that made even math feel like an act of love. He gave everything he had to his family, never asking for anything in return. He showed his love in the way he worked, the way he provided, and the way he was always there.

Now, as my family faces the heartbreak of his illness, I hold onto these memories tighter than ever. My grandpa built a life for us with his hands—strong, steady, and full of love. And no matter what, I will always remember them.❤️