Howard Buller
Obituary
Howard K. Buller was born on Nov. 3,
1920, near Stockham, Nebraska, to Henry B. and Anna M. Friesen
Buller. He grew up in the Henderson, Nebraska, community and attended
grade school at District 62. He graduated from Henderson High School
in 1938. He was baptized and became a member of the Bethesda
Mennonite Church in 1940, where he was active until 1990, when he
transferred his membership to Bethel College Mennonite Church, North
Newton.
After high school, Howard worked at
various farming-related jobs in the Henderson area and worked on
harvest crews in the Inman and Mountain Lake, Minnesota, communities
until he was drafted into the army in 1942. In the army, Howard
served as a non-combatant and was trained as a mechanic. After
serving almost four years, he was honorably discharged and returned
to his home community.
Howard was married to Elma M. Mierau on
May 16, 1947. They had three children: Ruth Ann, Stanley and Charles.
During his working years, Howard held
various jobs in Henderson. He worked as a mechanic and then owned the
local Standard Oil service station. For several years, he worked in
the local high school as a custodian. He also drove a delivery truck
for the local hatchery and cement truck for the Henderson concrete
plant. In the 1960s, he was hired as a postal clerk in the Henderson
Post Office. When the position of rural mail carrier came open,
Howard applied and got the job. He loved this job and held it until
his retirement in 1986.
After retiring from the Post Office
with 27 years of service, Howard and Elma moved to North Newton to do
voluntary service at Bethel College. Before retirement and into his
90s, Howard was an active volunteer. He spent significant time
volunteering at Swan Lake Christian Camp, Camp Friedenswald, MDS,
Bethel College, Newton Meals on Wheels, Newton Et Cetera Shop and
Camp Mennoscah. When not volunteering, Howard enjoyed making wooden
toys, which he took to Mennonite Central Committee auctions in
Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma for many years.
Howard was preceded in death by his
parents and his wife, Elma.
He is survived by daughter, Ruth Ann
Nelson and husband Randy; sons, Stanley and wife Carol and Charles
and wife Darlene; grandchildren, Sarah Phillips (John), Erica,
Christian, Craig (Caitlyn) and Karl (Emmali); and great-granddaughter
Emma Nelson. He is also survived by his sister, Eleanor Hatfield; and
brothers, Louie (Evelyn), Dean (Harriet) and Jimmy (Betty).
A memorial service will be held at 11
a.m. on Saturday (Feb. 11, 2017) at the Bethel College Mennonite
Church in North Newton. Howard donated his body to KU Medical Center,
Kansas City, Kansas, for research. After cremation, his ashes will be
placed in the columbarium at Bethel College Mennonite Church.
Memorials can be made out to MCC in
care of Bethel College Mennonite Church, North Newton.
