Lewis Bussey Obituary

LEWIS FRANKLIN BUSSEY

Lewis Franklin Bussey was born on October 7, 1919 to Elmer Ward Bussey and Florence Camfield Bussey in Tabor, South Dakota.

He had four siblings, Howard Bussey, Raymond Bussey, Warren Bussey and Kay Bussey. He married Sadie Winifred (Holleman) Bussey in August 1941. Sadie (Holleman) Bussey predeceased Lewis, and passed away on March 19, 2003. They had five children, Barbara Jean (Bussey) Slansky, Marilyn Eileen (Bussey) Francis, Nancy Kay (Bussey) League, Robert Lewis Bussey, and Sandra Lou (Bussey) Cole. Barbara married Doug Slansky, and they had three children, Doug Slansky, Jr., Christine (Slansky) Abel, and Rebecca (Slansky) Rusnak. Marilyn married Harry (Skip) Francis, and they had 4 children, Todd Francis, who predeceased Lewis Bussey, Mark Francis, Jeff Francis, and Kevin Francis. Nancy married Steve League, and they had two children, Steve League, Jr. and Jenny (League) Sobon. Robert Bussey married Phyllis (Foret) Busey, and they had three children, Sara (Bussey) Dantzler, Colin Bussey, and Martine Bussey. Sandra married Mike Cole, and they had one child, Bryan Cole.

Lewis was also blessed with twenty great grandchildren.

Lewis and Sadie settled in Downers Grove, Illinois, having moved there from South Dakota around the time of WW II. He and Sadie raised their family there. Lewis was a long-time employee of Electro Motive, a division of General Motors, where he was a process engineer for over 40 years and worked on the production of diesel locomotives and other diesel engines. His work for Electro Motive sent him to Denmark and Brazil to help with diesel production in those countries. He was part of WW II, the Greatest Generation, and was slated to be in the first invasion of Tokyo Bay if the atomic bomb had not been used to end the war. All of the Bussey kids went through the Downers Grove public school system and went on to be successful in their careers and lives. Lewis was a firm believer that education was the key to success, and made sure that his children had every opportunity to succeed. Lewis and Sadie, as well as their children, were all members of the First Congregational Church of Downers Grove while they lived there.

Lewis loved to snow ski, party, play with his kids and grandkids, and especially loved to work on cars. Those who knew him, will remember him up to his elbows in grease working on his own vehicles or on the vehicles of his daughters many boyfriends, the neighbor's cars, and his grandkid's cars. He was proud of completely refurbishing a Chevy Corvair and a 1960 convertible Mercedes Benz 190 SL sports car.

Lewis was blessed with a second marriage to Earlene (Moody) Bussey. They took many trips together overseas and in the United States. They made their home at Shell Point, a life-care retirement community, in Ft. Myers, Florida. Earlene continues to live at Shell Point. Her companionship with him will never be forgotten.

Lewis had a zest for life and a sparkle in his eye. He loved people, his family and his country and was always active - even when his body was not so helpful in his later years. He lived by the motto "everything in moderation" - which he said was passed down to him by his parents. That philosophy served him well. Lewis always told his children that he could fix anything (mostly true) except a broken heart. He had a zest for living that he passed on to his children, and that his grandchildren and even his great grandkids admired. Everyone that knew him had a "Lewey" story.

Lewis, per his wishes, will have his ashes buried at the military cemetery in Sarasota, Florida. A memorial service is being planned and will take place at some time in the future.

Donations in his name to the American Heart Association are encouraged.