Gordon C Buchner

On Wednesday morning, September 19, 2012, the world lost a soldier, a fighter, a hero, a husband, a father and a grandfather. He fought lifes battles with strength, courage and without complaints. Life was a gift. To those who knew Gordy, his life was a gift to them. He was so many things to so many people. He was a protector, a teacher, a mentor, a neighborhood Dad and a friend. He loved to laugh and make others laugh. You could say Gordy was the class clown who never quite grew up. His sense of humor will never be forgotten.

Gordon C. Gordy Buchner, 67, of La Crosse, passed away peacefully after a long, courageous battle with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and a stem cell transplant. His doctors called him a miracle man. He lived longer than most patients who have stem cell transplants. A testament to his strength and will. Gordy was born on December 20, 1944 in La Crosse, WI to Bernard and Elizabeth (Schmidt) Buchner, the youngest of seven children. In 1962 at the age of 17 he enlisted into the U.S. Marine Corp. He proudly served the 1thstth Battalion and fought during the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis. In January of 1967 he met the love of his life, Diana J. Miller. They married on July 22, 1967 and their union lasted 45 years. Together they raised three sons, Troy, Bradley and Gordon, Jr. He was a beloved father and never missed one of his childrens activities. For 30 years Gordy was a master plumber and part owner of Bernie Buchner Plumbing. A plumber by trade, he was a singer and comedian at heart. He loved to sing, write songs, paint, fish, golf, bowl and cheer for the Green Bay Packers. His beloved dog is named Brett after a certain quarterback. Most of all he loved his family, especially his two grandsons, Gordon III and Nolan. Our loss is Heavens gain. If you listen carefully, you can hear St. Peter laughing at one of his jokes.

Gordy is survived by his loving wife, Diana, three sons Troy (Jackie) Buchner of Green Bay, WI, Bradley Buchner of Holmen, WI and Gordon, Jr. (Laurie) Buchner of Holmen, WI, two grandsons Gordon III and Nolan, four brothers Ben (Lois) of La Crosse, Orville of La Crosse, Marlin (Elaine) of La Crosse and Gary of Holmen, one sister Elaine (Pat) Doyle of Onalaska, sister-in-law Phyllis Buchner of La Crosse, his mother-in-law Viola Miller of Onalaska, three brothers-in-law Robert (Carol) Miller of West Salem, John (Karla) Miller of La Crosse and Bruce (Kelly) Miller of Chaseburg, four sisters-in-law Trudy Burton of Onalaska, Patricia Mitchell of Holmen, Lisa (Brian) Kehr of La Crosse and Mary (Mike) Linden of Delavan along with numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Virgil, two brothers-in-law Kevin Miller and David Mitchell and his father-in-law Robert Miller.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, September 24, 2012 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, 612 Division St., La Crosse. Pastor Mark Jolivette will officiate. Entombment, with military honors, will be in the Garden of Peace Mausoleum, Mormon Coulee Memorial Park. Friends may call at the Schumacher- Kish Funeral Home, 200 West Ave. S., La Crosse on Sunday from 4-7 PM and again at the church on Monday from 10 AM until the time of service.