Dick was born in Crofton, Nebraska on March 28th, 1933. He grew up on a farm near there. Dick was eldest of the five children of Alfred and Wanda Buschelman. He stayed busy as a youth working on neighboring farms and even working one summer on the Gavins Point Dam project at Yankton, SD. Dick met Norma Jean Kusel, of neighboring town Bloomfield when she and her father gave him a ride to town after his car broke down. They struck up a friendship that soon turned to love. They were married in 1953. Dick joined the Air Force in 1954. In the twenty years he served as an auto-pilot technician, he and family were stationed at many Air Force bases located in the U.S. and abroad. Included are California, Alaska, Washington, North Dakota, Adana, Turkey, South Carolina, Massachusetts, two stints overseas during Vietnam and finally retiring to Bellevue in 1974. Dick then worked 20 enjoyable years at Mutual of Omaha meeting and gaining many friends along the way. Dick and Norma had three children-Deb 1954, Rick 1957 and Diannne 1961. He also had many hobbies over the years--raising rabbits in the 70's, small engine shop in the 80's, and one of his favorite things to make were turkey calls. He made many over the years and gave them all away. He headed up an annual Fall Turkey Hunt on the Santee Indian Reservation. Many of his friends and relatives joined for this favorite event every year since 1988....with many more stories being told and good times being had than actual turkeys being shot!Dick was also a great athlete. He played and coached men's fast pitch softball. Even coaching his daughters in slow pitch in the 80's. He golfed regularly and was one heck of a bowler--playing league bowl starting in 1960. Dad loved music and singing along. He was a natural artist who could draw freehand. He could build about anything and fix about anything. He could tell a story with fact and just enough embellishment as for maximum effect...Ex..."Must have been 85 Toms in that herd!" An amazing all around guy. He will be dearly missed."I remember You...when my life is through and the Angels ask me to recall the thrill of them all, then I shall tell them...I remember you" Preceded in death by parents, brother John "Jack" Buschelman. Survived by wife Norma; daughter Debra Buschelman, Bellevue; son Rick (Liz) Buschelman, Edmond, OK; daughter Dianne Buschelman, Carter Lake, IA; sisters Alyce Van Kirk, Lou McCabe and Linda Gerber. 3 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildrenServices will be in Crofton, Nebraska at a later date.
