Jerry Joseph Bussanmas (2023)

BUSSANMAS, CORNING, KIELER, MARTIN, SEYMOUR, WOODARD

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:03:14

Iles Funeral Home
Des Moines, Iowa

Jerry Joseph Bussanmas died Tuesday, October 10, 2023, surrounded by his wife and his four children.

While numbers don’t define a person or their life, Jerry’s was crowded with big numbers. He was 87 years old at the time of his death, he’d loved the same woman for more than 70 years, married for 66 years, he reared four stubborn, thoughtful children, enjoyed corrupting his 12 grandchildren and loved watching his 19 (and counting) great grandchildren discover the world.

Jerry was born on January 23, 1936 to Sylvester (Jim) and Aletha Bussanmas. He was one of six children - Joan and the “Bussanmas Boys" Phil, Jim, Jack, Jerry and Otto. As with most big families, Jerry and his siblings had their differences, but they loved each other fiercely and he often recounted their adventures around Bevington. He was the last of his siblings, bringing the end to the Bussanmas Boys era.

He called Bevington his home from the beginning and until the end. You wouldn’t necessarily say Jerry enjoyed learning in the classroom, but he loved learning in life. From fighting and winning a battle with Polio, creating a second belly button he never tired of showing his grandchildren to his first job as a rock truck driver at 14 and more than 30 years at Firestone in Des Moines, Jerry’s work-ethic was the result of and only shadowed by his love of his family.

He met Alice Corning in school - it was a chance meeting, he stayed late for detention and she needed a ride home from practice - he never looked back. The two were married on October 27, 1956. From (before) their wedded bliss, they never missed an opportunity for a daily kiss or a pat on the rear. Jerry and Alice were together, always. Traveling the country with their best friends, going dancing and to dinner when they could get a babysitter and never shied away from simply holding hands or saying I love you.

Together they raised four children - Pam, Kathy, Jerry and Bret - in Bevington. Jerry imparted so much on his children in the form of love, but also life lessons. He never made the lessons seem like a burden or forced. “See these hands? These hands can do anything,” he would say, making the simple but profound point that you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. It was lessons like these - and funny sayings, like “better than a sharp stick in the eye” - that will always be remembered and recounted for millions of years, even if the history books don’t reflect them.

From his children, Jerry became the beaming grandfather of 12. He reveled in teaching them each about the family, watching them grow as they explored the open spaces of his home town and encouraging them to do great things with their lives, even if that prompted him to start a few friendly debates . The latter part of his life was spent enjoying the dizziness that comes with great-grandchildren. Jerry and Alice’s home was never empty, exceeding more than 50 people at family gatherings.

When he wasn’t spending time with his family, Jerry enjoyed the simple things in life, a nice whiskey and water (unless his young bartender subbed vodka for water) and a good book. Jerry led a meaningful, extraordinary in-our-eyes-life. He will be missed by his family, friends and the community he called home.

Jerry is survived by his wife of 66 years, Alice Bussanmas; children Pam (Harold) Seymour, Kathy (Rick) Kieler, Jerry (Nichole) Bussanmas, and Bret (Becky) Bussanmas. His grandchildren, Bill (Melissa) Bussanmas, Brenda Bussanmas, Bryan (Ashley) Bussanmas, Ashlee (Grady) Martin, Nick (Kelsey) Bussanmas, Jordan (Nick) Woodard, Tori, Zoe, Elle, Jae, and Parks Bussanmas. His great-grandchildren, Carter, Chloe, Riley, Maci, Lauren, Kylie, Jersey, Olivia, Emerson, Breck, Adeline, Gavi, June, Meeka, Lucy, Sylvester, Maverick, Beckham and Teagan. He is preceded in death by his parents, siblings and grandson, Kyle Kieler.

At Jerry's request, the family will host a celebration of life in Jerry's honor from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, October 22 at Bevington City Hall. The family would love to hear your stories of Jerry, have a drink of whiskey and enjoy a hog roast. Eulogy and remarks are planned for 1:30 p.m.

Madison Obituaries maintained by Linda Griffith Smith.
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