Henry B. Buslee

Henry B. Buslee of Fond du Lac, passed away August 5, 2011. Henry was born July 12, 1924 in Chicago. After high school he entered St Olaf College in Northfield, MN but as with a great many young men of the day, his studies had to take a back seat to World War II. Henry enlisted in the Merchant Marine in 1943 and in July of 1944 was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army. He served off the coast of France as the captain of a tugboat in 1944 and finished his active duty service stateside in 1946. He continued his military service in the army reserve retiring after 20 years as a light colonel. Henry and Ruth Andreen were married on December 15, 1945. They returned to St. Olaf and he graduated in 1949. While finishing his studies he served as class president in 1948 and for two years broadcast the Northfield farm show and 6:00 a.m. each morning. From Northfield they moved to Madison, WI, where Henry enrolled in law school receiving his law degree in 1952.Henry and Ruth had three children, Ingrid, Christopher, and Hans. They remained in Madison while Henry began his legal career as the Assistant City Attorney. He continued a second career as a radio announcer and was cast for a number of parts in musicals performed by the Madison Theater Guild.In 1961 the Buslee family moved to Fond du Lac where Henry worked first as the city attorney and later a city manager. He entered a private practice in 1968 that continued until his appointment to the circuit court in 1979. He retired from the bench in 2001.The judge enjoyed the spotlight. From broadcasting, to participating in musicals in both Madison and Fond du Lac, most famously playing Harold Hill in The Music Man, presenting a case in court or conducting a trial, he was at home on the stage. He and Ruth could always be counted on to entertain as an evening progressed. In 1973 Henry was one of the founders of the Fond du Lac chapter of Ducks Unlimited and for 33 years served as its master of ceremonies. There wasn't a crowd or an event that he couldn't warm with a story from his little black book. He loved golf, although no one really knows why, flying, hunting and cross-country skiing.Henry was preceded in death by his daughter Ingrid, his parents and sister Florence. He is survived by his wife Ruth, his sons Christopher (Mary), Hans (Roxann), four grandchildren Thomas (Alex), Anna (Brandon), Kristen, Yann and six great-grandchildren.



Visitation for Henry B. Buslee will be on Wednesday, August 10, 2011, from 12 Noon to 2 PM at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home. Memorial services will be at 2 PM on Wednesday at the funeral home. The Rev. David Pavesic will officiate. Cremation has taken place. Additional information and guest book may be found at www.ueckerwit.com In lieu of flowers memorials may sent to The Humane Society of Fond du Lac, 652 Triangle Road, Fond du Lac, WI 54935 or Immanuel Trinity Lutheran Church, 20 Wisconsin American Drive, Fond du Lac.