Robert W. Busk

Robert William Busk, “Bob”, of Indianapolis, Indiana, former resident of Mattoon, Park Forest and Chicago, Illinois and Afton, Madison, Kenosha, and Menasha, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2017.

Born in Shennington, Wisconsin on June 14, 1924, Bob graduated from Janesville High School in 1941 and continued on to receive a Bachelor of Business Administration in Public Utilities and Transportation degree in 1948 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he met his wife.

A proud veteran of WWII, Bob served in the Army Air Force as a Staff Sergeant.  He was a mechanical engineer and aerial top turret gunner on a B-25 Mitchell plane from 1943-1946.  As a member of the 12^th Army Air Force, he flew in the intensive air campaign, Battle of Brenner Pass, and supported the Allied ground push to end the Italian campaign.  After WWII, he helped train the Taiwan Air Force.

On October 1, 1949, Bob married Margaret Betty Conley in the Thorndike Hilton Chapel at the University of Chicago.

Bob worked as a District Traffic Manager for the Illinois Central Railroad in Wisconsin, Chicago and Mattoon, Illinois.  He was one of the first Traffic Managers to start Piggyback Rail Transportation (truck trailer atop of a train flatcar) with the trucking industry.  After his retirement, he earned a Master of Arts in Gerontology   from Eastern Illinois University joining his wife in the commencement as she received her Master of Science in Education.

His life was one of service to family, friends and neighbors, country and community.  Bob strongly believed in service to his community.  He was a member of the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association, Rotary International – Paul Harris Fellow, VFW, Masons, Lions Club International, Mattoon Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Delta Nu Alpha International Transportation Organization, First Presbyterian Church of Mattoon – Deacon, Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospital Volunteer Guild –LifeLine, Meals on Wheels, and President of Babe Ruth Baseball of Mattoon, Illinois.  Bob also was a volunteer coach for his son’s Little League Baseball teams and his daughter’s Girls’ Church League Basketball team.

Bob was an avid sports fan of his beloved Chicago Cubs since the age of 4, Green Bay Packers and University of Wisconsin Badger Athletics.  He witnessed the joy of the Cubs winning the Baseball World Series after 108 years.

His children remember him as a kind, caring, devoted father who taught them by example to love their family, help others, seek the good in people and that we are all part of God’s larger world.

Bob is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Margaret Betty (Conley), his children, Cynthia (John) O’Callaghan, Dr. Michael (Nancy) Busk, Julia (James) Boyle, grandchildren Dr. Margaret (Benjamin Bunch) Boyle, Christopher Boyle, Lindsay Boyle, Chelsea Boyle, Luke Robert Boyle, Courtney O’Callaghan, Jennifer O’Callaghan and great granddaughter, Penelope Mae Boyle Bunch, sisters Claire (George) Bailey, Jeanne Davies, Shirley Pollard and many nieces, nephews and cousins.   His parents, Marion (Rathbun) Busk, William Busk, sisters Darlene MacDonald and Carolyn Dennis preceded him in death.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, December 2, 2017 at the Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian, Indianapolis, Indiana with visitation at 11:30 am and funeral service at 1:00pm, Dr. Lewis Galloway and Dr. James Riley officiating. Funeral services are entrusted to Flanner Buchanan-Washington Park North, Indianapolis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in Memory of Robert W. Busk may be made to the St. Vincent Foundation, 8402 Harcourt Road, Indianapolis, Indiana 46260 or the American Lung Association, 55 W. Wacker Dr., Suite 1150, Chicago, Illinois 60601.