William John "Willie" Busing

William John Busing passed peacefully to his Lord and Savior in the presence of his family on December 10, 2020 at the age of 77. William, known to his friends and family as Willie, was born July 16, 1943 to Albert and Emma (Gemaehlich) Busing in Yuma, CO. He attended school in Otis, CO graduating from Otis High School in 1961.
Willie grew up on the family farm north of Otis. He was a first generation American on the Busing side. He was very active on the farm; as well as 4-H, high school athletics and Future Farmers of America.
Willie married his high school sweetheart and lifelong friend, Shamera Shafer in August of 1961 in Otis, CO. They started their life together in Fort Collins, CO, where William attended college at CSU for one year. While there, they welcomed their son, Jerald, in February 1962. With their second child on the way, they moved back to Otis and welcomed their daughter, Verinia in April of 1963. William enjoyed working for local farmers and the CSU Experiment Station while in Otis. Their third child, Thadd, joined the family in May 1968. Shortly after Thadd’s birth, the family relocated to Sterling, CO, so that Willie could finish his Agriculture Degree at Northeastern Junior College where he graduated in May of 1971. Willie utilized his degree and his love of agriculture while working at the Wycon and Agrichem Fertilizer Companies. The family settled in the Crook Community in 1972 where Willie worked for many years for Superior Fertilizer Company. It was in the Crook Community (where to his friends he was known as Bill) that they raised their family and put down roots. Due to numerous health issues, Willie was forced into an early retirement in 1991.
In 1997 health issues and love of family persuaded William and Shamera to relocate to Cortez, CO. While it was hard to leave the Crook Community William firmly believed that being close to his grandchildren was the highlight of his life. It wasn’t long until they started putting down new roots in this community being welcomed with love into the Arriola Bible Church family.
Willie enjoyed reading, hunting, fishing and camping with his family, as well as attending the events of his children and grandchildren. Going to football games was one of his favorite activities and players would say “you could hear him like a bull moose on the sidelines.” He was an avid woodworker and made many wood projects for his friends and family. For years he made wooden Christmas ornaments for all his family and friends. In recent years he was thankful to mentor his grandchildren in woodworking. He was a perfectionist in all that he did but especially in his woodworking. His favorite time was time spent with family, especially his grandchildren.
William was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Otis, CO. The United Church of Crook and the Arriola Bible Church of Lewis, CO where he served as an elder until his death.
William was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Emma; brother, Dietrich (Diane) Busing; sister, Marie (Duane) Benedict; and sister, Margaret Ann Busing.
He is survived by his wife, Shamera; son, Jerald (Megan) Busing of Abilene, KS; daughter Verinia (Gery) Fosnot of Cortez, CO ; son, Thadd (Rebecca) Busing of Lewis, CO; grandchildren, Sarah (Austin) Pfanenstiel of Mahatttan, KS, Jerad Busing and Kody Busing of Manhattan, KS, Lauren (Paul) Bronson of Westmoreland, KS, Blake Wildman and Dean Wildman of Abilen, KS, Kelsi (Mason) Nash of Littleton, CO, Kyra Fosnot of Cortez, CO, Caleb Busing, Noah Busing, Alyssa Busing, Katherine Busing, Vincent Busing, Claire Busing, Andrew Busing, Alexander Busing, Ian Busing and Thomas Busing of Lewis, CO; great grandchildren, Hunter, Lyla and Kaden Bronson of Westmoreland, KS; as well as his brother-in-law, James (Marg) Shafer of Otis; sisters-in-laws Karen (Steve) Vosburg of Brush, CO, Karla (Michael) Melchior of Penrose, CO, Billie (John) Feather of Sterling, CO, and many beloved nieces and nephews.