Thomas “Tom Cat” Charles Busack age 56 of Belview, formerly of Echo, passed away Monday, March 28, 2016 at Seasons Hospice. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 1 at Peace Lutheran Church in Echo. Visitation is 5:00-8:00 p.m. Thursday at the church and will continue one hour prior to services on Friday. Burial is in the Redwood Falls Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.
Thomas “Tom Cat” Charles Busack was born on January 31, 1960 at the Redwood Area Hospital in Redwood Falls, Minnesota to Robert and Ruth (Sward) Busack as their fourth and final son. Tom was baptized and confirmed in Christian faith at St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls. He attended Redwood Falls public schools throughout his childhood to eventually graduate from Redwood Falls High School in 1978. Growing up, Tom enjoyed life on the farm, being active in both 4-H and FFA. He also found his competitive spirit as he was a part of many sports teams in both basketball and football, where he was recognized as an outstanding athlete. He continued his education and athletic career after high school, first attending the University of Minnesota Technical College – Waseca, then transferring to Mankato State University to complete his time as a student-athlete. He was grateful for the relationships he built during that time, and often talked about his most cherished trip to Germany and Holland with the hoop squad from Mankato.
Tom was an avid outdoorsman, as fishing and hunting became some of his favorite hobbies. He looked forward to taking annual fishing trips up north with many of his close friends. He was a member of Pheasants Forever and the Wood Lake Sportsman Club which inspired him to open the Minnesota Valley Hunting Preserve & Game Farm, where he co-operated and guided pheasant hunting expeditions. Thereafter, Tom helped his father farm until he eventually took over in 1990. On November, 19, 1990 he was joined together through marriage to Faye Kruse (Colwell) and this union was blessed with his only two children, Lisa and Michael. He loved coaching and supporting both Lisa and Michael’s youth basketball teams. He also enjoyed family trips, traveling across the country as he inspired Michael to pursue his own basketball career. He was extremely proud of his children and their accomplishments, and encouraged them to always follow their dreams. Additionally, Tom’s friends played an instrumental role in his life, and he strongly valued their time together.
Tom is survived by his children Lisa Busack (fiancé Austin Orren) and Michael Busack; brothers: Bradford (Diane) Busack, David (Julie) Busack, and Dean (Katy) Busack; many nieces and nephews; special friend Brian (Kristal) Danielson; and many other close friends. He is preceded in death by his grandparents and parents, Bob and Ruth. Blessed be his memory.
So very sorry for your loss, Lisa and family! Thoughts and prayers to you! Know that your SRRHS “family” is here in love and support during this time! Take Care! Beth
Lisa and Family,
I am so very sorry to hear of the passing of your dad! You have my deepest sympathies. May you find comfort in the memories you shared together!
Deb Scherber
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. He will be greatly missed. God bless you and your family.
So sorry for your loss. I was a high school classmate of Tom’s.
Note to Brad and Diane – My sympathy to you and the family. It is so hard to loose a brother (as I know). You are in my prayers and thoughts.
Jo Brecht
Rest in Peace, my friend, till we meet again!!! Condolence’s to all of Tom’s family!!!
Mike and Lisa. My condolences to you and the rest of the family. Rip Tom
RIP Tom. Sorry for your loss, Busack family, he was a good classmate! I will miss you Tom!
Mark this is Brad Harvey
..Just saw that Tom pasted sorry to hear and saw you reply..hope all is well with you
thinking of you Lisa and praying and a hug waiting for you ~Wanda
Tom was a very special person. I enjoyed our time together sharing BB memories at the last class reunion. He just glowed as he talked about his 2 children and their accomplishments. Tom and I went to prom together in 1978 and he was always a gentle person. I will remember him fondly and wish his family peace. Blessings, Anne Pryor
So sorry for your loss. I was reminded of Tom last week as I watched a player trying to inbound a pass in the NCAA
tournament and I remembered Tom in that same position oh so many years ago ,with the opposing player flailing his arms and legs and the seconds ticking down. Tom forcefully bounced the ball off his chest and out of bounds to reset the clock and do it all over again. ( without the same enthusiasm by the opposing player). The moon won’t hang quite as high as it used to with Tom’s passing. God’s grace and blessings to all family and friends.
Dan Weeks (classmate and neighbor many years ago)
I was a classmate of Tom’s graduating in 1978. I remember Tom being a friendly and gentle friend. Rest in peace Tom. Wishing his family peace at this difficult time.
Mike and Lisa, so sorry for your loss and I’m thinking of you and the entire Busack family. I had the privilege of being a friend and teammate of Tom’s when he finished up his career as a student-athlete at MSU. Many, many fond memories of his sense of humor and compassion for fun, family and farming. Even though I have not seem him that often in the last 25 years it was always as if you could pick up right where you left off when you did see him or talk to him by phone or by text. He was very proud of both of you and we never had a conversation that didn’t include an update on what each of you were doing. Tom will always be a Mankato State Maverick in my heart and mind. Rest in peace Big Tom.
Sending thoughts and prayers to your family! Let your memories ease the pain of your loss! God only takes the best. Sincere condolences to you and your family.
I was part of Tom’s Maverick family. We knew him as Buse, Big dog, and head of Big Boys Bar and Grill. Buse was always the Maverick that could bring everyone together and make us laugh. I always thought he should have been a late night talk show host.
Even though many of his Maverick brothers will not be able to attend the services, it has brought us together is spirit and we have relived many memories of our time together. The few Mavericks that are able to make it are representing a much larger group in spirit.
Buse was a great friend and teammate and he is already missed!
I am also a part of Tom’s Maverick Family. We all loved him as a brother. As others have said we did not see each other that much over the years but as soon as you heard his voice you could not help but smile. Tom is already missed but is bringing some of us closer together as he always did. Thank you Tom for your friendship.
I am saddened by the loss of Tom. I enjoyed talking to him at Maverick basketball games these past few years while watching his son Mike. I was notified earlier today by my best friend that Tom had passed away and was just thinking about him this morning. He will be truly missed and I will continue to include Tom and the Busack family in my daily prayers. May the peace of the Lord be with the Busack family during this time of grief.
We are sorry to hear of the passing of Tom. We first knew the Busack family when we moved to Redwood Falls. Tom was a young boy then, and we watched him grow in many ways, especially in height. Our Condolences to Tom’s children, the 3 Busack brothers, Brad, Dave, & Dean and their families.
You are all in prayers. Loss is never easy. Tom was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor. He will be missed nun all who knew him. RIP Tom
I want to extend deepest sympathy to the Busack family. Brad & Diane, I did not realize Tom was your brother. Losing a sibling is very hard, but with the help of God, you will get through this. And, you will see him again. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this sad time. God bless & keep you always.
Thoughts and prayers to whole Busack family, Tom will be missed by all of us. As a fellow Maverick we all are feeling a huge void in our hearts today. The last time I saw Tom was at a Mavericks game a few years ago and it was just as if we were walking down the hallway from Highland Arena after practice and we picked up the banter from right where we left off on the way in. His great sense of humor and wry comments always hit the mark, even when the whistle blew to run lines at the end of practice there were always chuckles coming from his end of the line! What a great teammate and friend! Peace and love from the Kennedys in Wausau, WI.
Condolences to the Busack Family. I knew Tom from playing against him and with him in basketball. He was a true competitor. He always had time to chat with you. I will always remember his love of having a good time. He will be in our family prayers.
My heartfelt sympathy to Mike and Lisa and the entire Busack Family. I feel so fortunate to have been a friend and teammate of Tom’s at MSU. He had a way about him that drew people in and together……..I can still see Buse standing tall behind his Big Boys Bar & Grill bar shaking up another batch of his famous stovetop popcorn. The void he leaves will be felt by all of us who knew him. I will treasure the time I was able to share with Tom over the years and no doubt will cherish the conversations with him after learning he was sick. We lost a great friend and teammate from our Maverick Family and although Buse will be missed by all of us, his spirit will remain with us forever. May you rest in peace Big Man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
My thoughts and payers to the Busack family. Tom was a very good friend of mine and classmate from K-12 until we were RFHS ’78 grads. Many laughs and wonderful memories we shared together. From the grade school birthday and 4H Halloween parties to the fun times we shared working together at the Redwood Falls Golf Club. Rest in Peace Boozy- you will never be forgotten.
Busack family. So sorry for the loss of Tom. Thoughts and prayers go out to you all. Many good memories of playing basketball with Tom in high school. A great player and a great person. God Bless! Mark
Rest in Peace, Tom.
I was another classmate.
So sorry for your loss! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very sad time!
To the family, of my friend, Tom Busack. I am so sorry for your loss. Tom was a great friend and a classmate of mine. Any time I think of Tom, it makes me smiles. I have many great memories from spending time out at the farm to watching him play basketball. Anytime he was not able to make it home, because of a snow storm, he would always stay at my home. Boozy, you will be missed by many people. Rest in peace, my friend!
Dear Busacks, I’m another friend and fan of Tom’s from the class of ’78. I remember Tom for his great sense of humor. He was always entertaining his friends with bits he picked up from watching the Gong Show and Saturday Night Live – very cutting edge at the time. He brought the house down when he performed in front of the entire student body, with a paper bag over his head, as the Unknown Comic. I’m sad you have lost this kind-hearted funny guy. Please take care. Diann Miller Boonstra