Richard Paul Buss

Richard Paul Buss Age 86, of Oak Creek, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 6, 2020 with his loving wife of nearly 63 years Shirley (nee Shalewski) by his side. Richard was under the care of Zablocki VA Medical Center in Milwaukee. Richard was born on Christmas Eve 1933 to Paul William and Esther M.(nee Gavin) in Eland, WI. He graduated from Wittenberg High School in 1951. Richard enlisted in the United States Army in October of 1954 where he was stationed in Panama and Ecuador. Following a 2 year enlistment period, Richard was Honorably Discharged in October of 1956. Richard was an accomplished musician who over the course of 35 years played in several bands, including Jerry Voelker & the Jolly Gents in Ashwaubenon, WI; Golden Aces in Rosholt, WI; and Jolly Chaps in Stevens Point, WI. Richard’s talents included the trumpet, tenor saxophone and vocalized on many albums, 8-tracks, and cassettes. In 1953 Richard was performing at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church picnic in Galloway, WI and it was at this church picnic where Richard met Shirley. They later married on March 23, 1957 in the very same church. In 1957 Richard and Shirley moved to Green Bay, WI and started their family. In 1959 he began working for Chicago Northwestern Railroad and remained there for 18 years as a locomotive engineer. Richard and Shirley moved to Rosholt WI in 1974 and opened Buss' Drive-In Restaurant on Hwy 66. Richard was further employed with Portage County Parks Maintenance Department in Stevens Point, WI and retired in February of 1989 to Navarre, FL. Richard followed his heart doing the things he loved like spending time with his family, listening to music, lawn care and gardening, swimming, fishing, boating, and traveling. Richard will be dearly missed, always loved, and never forgotten. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; children, Richard (Diana) Buss, Ronny (Ester) Buss, Renee (Larry) Walkowski, Paul (Laura) Buss, Sally (Mark) Garski; Sandy (Jeffrey) Frasch; grandchildren, Christina (Paul) Tilque, Matthew (Haley) Buss, Corey Buss, Leyte Dittmer, Marvin (Alam) Buss, Heather (Dalton) Roberts, Brandon (Samantha) Walkowski, Melissa (Huron) Fletcher, Travis Garski, Shane Garski, Ashley Garski, Amanda (Lance) Meyer, Devan Frasch; great-grandchildren, Lillie and Parker Tilque, Jocelyn and William Buss, Alexa Dittmer, Solomon and Delilah Buss, Jessica, Ilycia, and Scott Dulian, Earlen Colt Roberts, Shawn Grace, Dawson, Madisen and Savannah Fletcher, Liam and Ethan Meyer. Survived by dear sisters; Mary Ellen (Wally) Ehardt, Nola (the late Suede) Melberg, and Elaine (Jim) Delwiche. fond sister-in-law of Loretta (the late Carl) Firkus, John (the late Leveta), and Mary (the late Patrick) Devereaux, and dear god-daughter Deanna Goszkowicz. He is further survived by other loved relatives and friends. Richard was preceded in death by his parents Paul William and Esther M. (nee Gavin); siblings Raymond (the late Lillian), JoAnn (the late Jiggs) Brunner and Donna (the late Bill) Howe, granddaughter Marivic Buss, brother-in law Roger (the late Rita) Shalewski. Visitation will be held at Max A. Sass & Sons-South Shore Chapel on Saturday, February 15 starting at 11AM until time of service at 1PM