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Mark "Mike" Busser, won numerous military honors
By EPHRATA REVIEW
Ephrata Review
Published: Jul 09, 2008 12:59 PM EST
EPHRATA - Mark W. (Mike) Busser, formerly of Ephrata, entered into rest at Denver
Nursing Home, on Sunday, July 6, 2008.
He was born in Brickerville,
a son of the late Frank and Katie (Weit) Busser. His wife, Reba A. Kreiser
Busser preceded him in death in 1994.
A U. S. Marine with the Fourth
Marine Division of B Company, First Battalion, 25th Regiment, Mike received
a Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation for his involvement in the
battles at Roi Namur, Saipan, Tinian and Iwo Jima. He also has received
four ribbons and two battle stars.
Mike was a member of the Salem
Lutheran Church of Ephrata and the Ephrata Recreation Center, and had
worked as a bricklayer for Bricklayers and Local Craftsman #5. He was a
bricklayer for 34 years, most of them working out of the Reading Local 21
Bricklayers Union.
He was a life member of the Cocalico Post #3376,
V. F. W., a member of the Cloister Post #429, American Legion, Ephrata
Amvets Post #136, Lebanon Beagle Club, and Northern Lancaster County Beagle
Club.
A former boxer at the St. Joseph's Club in Lancaster, Mike was
a second string member of his division's undefeated football team, which
featured three NFL pros and six collegiate All-Americans. He enjoyed all
sports including baseball, football, boxing and played semi-pro ice hockey
at Hershey with the "Flying Dutchmen." Many girls and guys looked for "PaPa
Busser" to be cheering them on at Ephrata sporting events.
Mike also
enjoyed hunting in Sullivan County, fishing locally, and he raised "field
champion" beagles.
Surviving are a daughter, Judi, wife of D. Craig
Sweigart, a sister, Hilda W. Garman, two grandsons, Ryan, husband of Jill
(Kreider) Sweigart and Jed Sweigart, and one great grandson, Kolton, all of
Ephrata.
A viewing will be held on Wednesday, July 9 from 6 to 8
p.m. at the Stradling Funeral Home, 201 Church Ave., Ephrata and from 9 to
10 a.m. on Thursday, July 10 at the Salem Lutheran Church, 1331 W. Main
St., Ephrata followed by the funeral service at 10 a.m. with Pastor Robert
M Bistline officiating. Interment will follow in the Mellingers Lutheran
Cemetery, West Cocalico Township. Military honors will be accorded by the
Red Rose Honor Guard.
The family requests memorial contributions in
Mark's memory be sent to the Ephrata Recreation Center Youth Programs, 130
S. Academy Dr., Ephrata, PA 17522 or Salem Lutheran Church Memorial Fund,
1331 W. Main St., Ephrata, PA 17522.
Arrangements by Stradling
Funeral Homes, Akron/Ephrata. For additional information or to send a
condolence to the family, visit www.stradlingfuneralhome.com
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