Cheston Van Bachtel (1984-2004)

This website was created in the memory of the most awesome brother I know , Cheston Van Bachtel. He was born on March 3,1984 in Florida and passed away on September 11,2004 in Oakland, Maryland as the result of a motorcycle accident. Cheston was only 20 years old. He was the son of Carroll and Jeanine Bachtel; the brother of Andrew and Keri Bachtel; the Grandson of Adam and Genevieve Lucas and Harold and Barbara Bachtel. Cheston was a cousin to Dan, John, Matt, Paul, Harley, Shay, Janna, Jodi, Justin, Jason, Jenny, Brooks, Nathan, Bethany, Zach, Marissa, Kimmy, Tayler, Tyler, Travis, Amanda, Julia, Robbie, and many more. Cheston Truly has more friends then I can even begin to name. He had so many nicknames; Chester; chestnut; chet'n; chesterbaby; nut...
There really are endless things that I would like to say about my brother. To put it simply: He was a special person; he could bring a smile to any face, at anytime. Cheston’s personality was Beyond compare to anyone else’s in this world. Everybody loved Cheston; it was hard not to. He always showed so much love for his family. Cheston was proud to be a “Bachtel” and especially proud of his middle name “Van” ( also the middle name of his father and grandfather ). He was a definite mommie's-boy, Chester always was checking up on her and just simply enjoyed spending time with his mom. Yet, He still greatly looked up to his father and was amazed by the amount of skill and talent his father had.
He loved and admired his brother Andy who is 3 years younger than him. They were two-of-a-kind; so much alike but still learned so much from each other. Cheston also always made a point to let his little sister Keri know that he cared about her, even if it WAS by picking on me.
He always would talk about the memories of his Grandma and Grandpa Lucas. Chester definitely inherited some his Grandma Lucas’s strait-forwardness. He would also make a point to regularly visit and keep in touch with his Grandma and Grandpa Bachtel. When Cheston went to their house he always would want to look at picture albums and hear stories about him and his cousins when they were younger. His cousins were some of Cheston’s best friends. He had so many, yet liked to spend time with each and everyone of them.
When Cheston was 17 he met a wonderful girl, Alayna, who he cared about more then anything. Where ever they went together, he would be sure to mention “I have the prettiest girlfriend in the whole wide world”.
People were simply drawn to Cheston. He had some of the best friends and without a doubt plenty of them. Weather he knew them for 1 month or 20 years , he always managed to have fun with friends. Cheston had a mildly-wild side too. If he and friends couldn’t find trouble, they were sure to make it ( always harmless of course ).
Cheston loved something else almost as much as he loved his family and friends; his motorcycles. Chester grew up with four wheelers and dirt bikes, but nothing satisfied his need for speed like street bikes. First was a Yamaha FZR, next a Yamaha R6, and then came the “bike of all bikes” a Honda CBR 954 RR ( 0-60 in 3.1 seconds) . Cheston would always say it was his dream bike and that he was addicted to it. Many people don’t understand that this was actually an understatement ; words can not explain how much Cheston enjoyed just riding his bike. Although it killed him I believe he would say it was all worth it.
“ And now I’m glad I didn’t know,
the way it all would end,
the way it all would go,
Our lives are better left to chance ,
I could have missed the pain ,
but I’d of had to miss the dance.” - Garth Brooks