BUSSANMAS, Frank C. (1918)

BUSSANMAS

Posted By: Mary Hart, Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/28/2011 at 20:10:27

Winterset Madisonian, Winterset, Iowa
March 13, 1918, page l

FRANK BUSSANMAS Buried With Honors

Attended by the full ceremonials of the Catholic ritual, together with the impressive military honors accompanying the burial of a soldier, the remains of Frank C. Bussanmas were laid in the cemetery at St. Mary's on Friday.

The death of Mr. Bussanmas of the l09th Ammunition Train, occurred on March 3d at Camp Cody, Deming, N.M., following an operation for abscess, resulting from a cracked or fractured rib. Acute septicemia was given as the immediate cause of his death. A nearly fatal illness from typhoid three years ago, may have left his system susceptible to the disease which ended his life.

His body was sent back from Camp Cody in charge of a comrade, Cyril Duff who was also a childhood playmate and intimate friend of Mr. Bussanmas. A brother, John Bussanmas, who went south at the first news of the operation, also returned at the same time, arriving in Bevington on Wednesday.

An unusual circumstance is the fact that in the family of Otto and Julia Bussanmas, this was the first death since the loss of one child twenty eight years ago, and as the family originally included thirteen children, the fact is the more striking. The death of Frank leaves six daughters and five sons in the family.

The entire community about Bevington was represented at the burial services of this young man, who held so high a position in the regard of all who had been his associates or acquaintances.

A detail of twelve men from Camp Dodge, in charge of Corporal Buzay, acted as guard of honor, with William and Denver Johnson, Joseph and Thos. Davis, Pete Murphy and Thos. Kelleher as pall bearers under the supervision of Martin Gavin.

Sixty automobiles filled with friends composed the procession from the Bussanmas home in Bevington to St. Mary's church in front of which floated the stars and stripes at half staff while over the church entrance hung the service flag honoring its men who are on government duty. St. Mary's church was crowded for the celebration of requiem high mass, with Rev. J. J. Condon of Churchville as celebrant; Rev. Joseph Minch of St. Maray's as deacon, and Rev. M. F. Dugan of St. Patrick's as sub-deacon. The musical service used was the Gregorian chant, furnished by a large chorus under the direction of the Sisters of the Order of St. Francis. During the service the flag draped casket was guarded by Private Merkel as sentry. The sermon by Rev. Minch of St. Mary's from the text”Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's”, was intensely patriotic and filled with high sentiment. The speaker drew from the life of Mr. Bussanmas, the illustration of obedience, to the call of law and government, as well as of obedience to the call of the church and of god Faithful to his church and state from boyhood, he could be nothing less than a loyal follower of his country's flag in the hour of need.

At the close of the church services the assemblage proceeded to the flag guarded cemetery adjacent to St. Mary's headed by the priests, the procession included the military detail with Private Merkel on guard and Private Duff walking behind the casket, carrying a beautiful floral flag. The Order of Foresters attended the funeral of their deceased brother, acting as especial escort. The final ritualistic ceremonies of the church were followed by military honors. Three volleys by the firing squad of soldiers had hardly died away when Bugler Sissons sounded “Taps”, the solder's good night, thus concluding a beautifully solemn and impressive service, the first military funeral held in this vicinity since that of last June, in Earlham, honoring Private Irwin of Company A.

Many tributes of flowers came from friends. Large floral offerings were sent by the Order of Foresters, the Knights of Columbus, the Brown-Camp Hardware Co., and the Jewett Lumber Co., of Des Moines. The later sent a large representation of the American flag, comped of red and white carnations and blue immortalles.

Frank C. Bussanmas reached his 24th birthday the 17th day of last January. The surviving members of his family are his father and mother of Bevington, a brother, John, of Des Moines, who was with him in Deming at the time of his death; three brothers; George, Otto Jr., and Sylvester of Bevington; a brother, Valentine of St. Mary's, Iowa, and six sisters; Mrs. Chris Limke of Paulina, Ia, Mrs. John Thurman of Granville, Iowa, Mrs. M. Downey of Englevale, N.D., Miss Julia of Granger and Misses Gertrude and Agnes of Bevington.