Joan Buschmann

Joan D. Buschmann, nee Wulff, 82, Fortified with the Sacraments of the Holy Mother Church on Tuesday, April 4th, 2017. 

Mrs. Buschmann was born on March 29, 1935 on a 700-acre dairy farm in Argyle, Missouri. When Joan was 14, her mother unexpectedly passed away. She left school to cook and care for her family as well as the workers on the family farm. Although she left early, she returned to her one-room schoolhouse and proudly graduated with her class.

On October 18, 1958 at the age of 23, Joan married the love of her life, Alvin Buschmann. Over the next 11 years, they were blessed with six children. After Alvin’s sudden death and with the help of wonderful neighbors, she raised her children. A devout Catholic, she was one of the most active members of St. Gregory Catholic Church and school. Joan would load her station wagon beyond capacity with kids and haul them to their events. She volunteered every chance she had, yet never missed any of her children’s activities. 

When an opportunity arose to cook for events at Second Baptist Church, Joan accepted and the rest is history. She began cooking and catering weddings, funerals, and parties, which then led to her founding “As You Like It Catering”. In 1986, her company moved into the kitchen at St. Gregory. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

For many years, Joan was determined to die doing what she loved the most. After collapsing at an event, Joan passed the following day. Joan would always say, one of her greatest blessings is the thousands of friends she made along the way. 

Joan is preceded in death by her parents, Victor and Pauline (nee Boehm) Wulff; her husband, Alvin Buschmann, who passed on September 7, 1969; her infant children, Shari Buschmann, who passed on July 16, 1959, Catherine Buschmann, on October 9, 1960, and Melanie Buschmann, on December 18, 1968; and one sister, Verna Oligschlaeger, who passed on January 2, 2016.

Surviving to cherish her memory are her children, Russell (Margaret) Buschmann, Mary Buschmann, Andrew Buschmann, Maura (David) Ziegler, Teresa “Missy” Buschmann, and Anthony Buschmann; her grandchildren, Russell, Alvin and Hannah Buschmann, Christa (Robyn) Tweedy, David J., Austin, Caroline and Ryan Ziegler, Travis and JoAnna Buschmann, Brent (Kaylee) and Mary Jane Buschmann; two great-grandchildren, Hayley Buschmann and Harper Tweedy; her brothers, Robert Wulff, Don (Gloria) Brunnert and Ken (Rita) Wulff; her sister, Norma Hughes; her brother-in-law, James Oligschlaeger; her favorite dog, Daisy; numerous nieces, nephews, and thousands of friends.

Donations in Joan’s memory are appreciated to Holy Trinity Catholic Church or to Holy Trinity Catholic School, 3500 St. Luke Lane, St. Ann, Missouri 63074.

Joan stayed true to her spirit of giving by donating her body to science.