Kay Bushner was born on November 13, 1941, in Yuma, and she passed away on April 26, 2015. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 2 at 2 p.m., at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Otis. An Interment will follow in the Yuma Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Plains, PO Box 365, Wray, CO 80758. Baucke Funeral Home of Yuma is in charge of the arrangements.
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Kay was born to Bill and Thelma (Brant) Brower on November 13, 1941, six miles south and one-half mile east of the town of Yuma. Her family moved moved to Otis when she was four and she grew up there. She and Fred married August 17, 1958 and moved to Yuma where he had grown up.
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Kay Brower Bushner was born November 13, 1941 to Bill and Thelma Brant Brower on the family farm. Kay was the 3rd child of 4, having an older brother Jim, older sister Shirley and younger sister Sandie. Kay grew up on the family farm north of Otis, where she was primarily responsible for collecting the eggs and milking the cows (who had a pesky habit of messing up her hair, generally before a date). She didn’t particularly love any of these responsibilities, especially after a skunk surprised her in the chicken coup. Kay was so startled, she ran all the way back to the house and promptly fainted. With the typical farm chaos, it was an impressive feat that Kay was able to always leave the house with impeccable hair, a tradition she always carried throughout her life. The love of Kay’s life, Fred Bushner, robbed the cradle and married her at the tender young age of 16 on August 17, 1958. To this union two children were born, Kindi in 1959 and Trent in 1961. Wanting to earn her GED, Kay pursued her education at Yuma High School and eventually earned her GED from Northeastern Jr. College.
Kay and Fred worked together for their entire married life, building Bushner Farms northwest of Yuma. Kay was not only a mother, but also the right hand woman, cook, homemaker and chief bottle washer. Fred will tell you she was actually the boss. Case in point, on one occasion Kay was working a field with a 4020 John Deere tractor equipped with a swamp cooler. Now remember, Kay went to the field looking the same as she looked for church. At every bump in the field, the cooler would dump muddy water on her precisely styled hair. New to the area was implement dealer Shorty Meis, who was out trying to make friends with the farmers. He stopped by the field to visit with Kay. When asked about how she liked the 4020 her response was “I hate the dang thing”. He asked her if he could bring her a different tractor and she replied “bring it.” Shorty went back to town and brought her a used 4430 with a factory cab and air conditioner. After one round in the 4430 he asked her what she thought of it. She replied “I love it, leave it here.” At the end of the day when Fred picked her up from the field he inquired “Where in the heck did this tractor come from?” She said “I bought it. And I don’t want to hear anything about it.” The tractor was a common place for her children to help out on the farm as well, although they have more memories of sleeping on the floor of the tractor, than actually working until the later years.
One of Kindi's and Trent’s earliest memories was when Kay found a small snake in her garden while hoeing. She grabbed the kids by their arms; never let their feet even hit the ground, and locked them in the house while she proceeded to chop the poor snake into a million pieces with the hoe. She then called Fred to come and advise her on what kind of snake he though it was.
Although they worked hard, they also took time to play, going on family vacations and to the lake often. Kay would always curl her hair before leaving for the lake. To keep her hair in pristine condition even at the lake, she would wear her white, rubber ski cap to ski; rarely (if ever) falling in the water, she would ski from the shore and finish at the shore. Kay and Fred learned how to snow ski. On one ski trip Kay’s most accomplished feat was juggling a case a beer after falling down the steps of the liquor store. She broke her ankle, but every glass bottle of beer remained intact.
Kay was known for many things. Aside from being a farming partner to Fred, she was a master quilter, travel agent, an incredible cook, and cake decorator. A great chef and baker, there was little that Kay needed a recipe for and it almost always turned out amazing. However, she had one nemesis in the kitchen: pie crust! One weekend when her niece and nephew were visiting, Kay decided to make a cherry pie. Upon hearing…. Well, insert some inappropriate language here…. The children ran into the kitchen to see Kay throwing her pie crust against the cabinet door. It hit the floor; she quickly wadded it up, and angrily threw it in the trash. Needless to say, cherry pie was out… at least for that time.
In 1979 Kindi married the love of her life Dan Kirchenschlager, who became the proud parents of Kay and Fred’s first grandchildren, Amber born in 1982 and Mallori in 1985. In 1987, their son Trent married the love of his life Vicki Canetti. They welcomed their last two grandchildren, Brianna born in 1988 and Dakin in 1991.
Keeping Kay’s impeccable sense of style up-to-date often required hours and hours of power shopping. Fred’s first shopping experience with Kay took place on 16th street in Denver in search of a leather coat. The journey began at the top of 16th street, stopping at every store on one side of the street, crossing over and back up the other side of the street only to return to the first store entered to buy the first coat she tried on, blazing a path in the concrete as they went. This quickly became a common trend in the Bushner family. Christmas brought Kindi and Kay together every year for a day of power shopping. Since Vicki was new to the family Kindi and Kay invited her to go along. They left at 6:00am and returned home at midnight, loading up Kindi’s van with presents for every person on each of their lists. They graced every toy store in Denver to price everything only to return to the original store to purchase all of the toys. Vicki’s impression of this trip was that “we all looked like a bunch of gypsies” because presents were piled so high you couldn’t see out of any of the windows. When Vicki was asked to go the next year she said “absolutely not! You walked my legs off and you never fed me.” Kindi responded, “a pretzel, a Cinnabon, and lemonade is all you need.”
In 1986 Kay was diagnosed with small cell lymphoma. Technology at the time was archaic, but through the struggles of chemo, Kay recovered and lived on to enjoy her life with loved ones and friends. Her strength, love, and compassion drew many people to her. When we think about her in her youth the best description we can give is she was truly a ball of fire.
Kay always drove a sports car, rarely obeying the speed limit, earning the name “hot wheels.” The grandchildren always joked that she was crop dusting instead of driving down the dirt roads. Over the years she demanded a convertible and finally talked Fred into buying two. The irony being that she never once drove with the top down – so as not to mess up her hair.
In 2000 Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer and treatment put her in remission. Her world was rocked again in 2004 when she was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. In 2005 Kay chose to have a stem cell transplant to save her life. Even though she experienced extreme sickness and hair loss, she never missed a single school event that her grandchildren participated in. She continued to live her life, and spread her character and strength throughout the community. She truly became a beacon of light for those who had fallen ill just as she had. We have never seen a person fight so hard for life as she did. Even though Kay faced much adversity in her life, her faith in God never wavered.
She also participated in a number of organizations and was extremely involved in the Yuma community as well as being an active and devoted member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Three of her favorite past times included playing bridge with her closest friends, playing the organ and reading.
Although Kay and Fred went on several trips, Kay’s favorite took place in June of 2012 when she Fred, and Kindi went on a European vacation that fulfilled one of her life long dreams. They traveled throughout Italy, rode the train through Switzerland, spent time in Germany, and ended their trip in Paris France. The highlight of her trip was eating lunch on the second level of the Eiffel Tower.
In 2007 Kay and Fred welcomed a new grandson to the Family. Amber married her high school sweetheart Max Moore in October of 2007. On January 1, 2013, Kay and Fred were blessed with their first great grandchild, Henley Marie. She quickly became the apple of their eye and could raise Kay’s spirits even when she wasn’t feeling her best.
In December of 2013 Kay faced yet another hurdle in her life when she contracted spinal meningitis. Although the odds were stacked against her, she rallied once again to prove how resilient she was in the face of adversity. This disease forever changed her health and contributed greatly to her being reunited with our Lord.
Surviving Kay is her husband of 56 years Fred, daughter Kindi, son Trent and wife Vicki, grandchildren Amber and husband Max, Mallori, Brianna, Dakin, great granddaughter Henley, brother Jim Brower, sister Shirley Ison, sister Sandy and husband Gale Crosier, sister-in-law Xyla Wagner, sister-in-law Mary and husband Jim Nagel, sister-in-law Susan and husband Loris Allen, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Thelma, parents-in-law Otto and Lillyan Bushner, sister-in-law Phyllis Brower, brother-in-law Ron Ison, sister-in-law Jeanne’ and brother-in-law Don Majors, brother-in-law Kenny Wagner, and son-in-law Dan Kirchenschlager.
Throughout her life, Kay exemplified the true meaning of strength and fortitude. She has shown us that pure determination can truly move mountains. There is not a person on this earth that has had an impact like hers on our lives. We hope that her story can also have an impact upon your life. No matter what obstacles you face, remember her story; no obstacle is too great in the face of determination and will. She was the rock of the family and continues to be our rock today.
Kay’s celebration of life was held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Otis, CO with pastor Scott Bieker officiating on May 2, 2015. Interment was at the Yuma Cemetery and memorial contributions were given to Hospice of the Plains. Arrangements were made by Baucke Funeral Home.
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Kay was born to Bill and Thelma (Brant) Brower on November 13, 1941, six miles south and one-half mile east of the town of Yuma. Her family moved moved to Otis when she was four and she grew up there. She and Fred married August 17, 1958 and moved to Yuma where he had grown up.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kay Brower Bushner was born November 13, 1941 to Bill and Thelma Brant Brower on the family farm. Kay was the 3rd child of 4, having an older brother Jim, older sister Shirley and younger sister Sandie. Kay grew up on the family farm north of Otis, where she was primarily responsible for collecting the eggs and milking the cows (who had a pesky habit of messing up her hair, generally before a date). She didn’t particularly love any of these responsibilities, especially after a skunk surprised her in the chicken coup. Kay was so startled, she ran all the way back to the house and promptly fainted. With the typical farm chaos, it was an impressive feat that Kay was able to always leave the house with impeccable hair, a tradition she always carried throughout her life. The love of Kay’s life, Fred Bushner, robbed the cradle and married her at the tender young age of 16 on August 17, 1958. To this union two children were born, Kindi in 1959 and Trent in 1961. Wanting to earn her GED, Kay pursued her education at Yuma High School and eventually earned her GED from Northeastern Jr. College.
Kay and Fred worked together for their entire married life, building Bushner Farms northwest of Yuma. Kay was not only a mother, but also the right hand woman, cook, homemaker and chief bottle washer. Fred will tell you she was actually the boss. Case in point, on one occasion Kay was working a field with a 4020 John Deere tractor equipped with a swamp cooler. Now remember, Kay went to the field looking the same as she looked for church. At every bump in the field, the cooler would dump muddy water on her precisely styled hair. New to the area was implement dealer Shorty Meis, who was out trying to make friends with the farmers. He stopped by the field to visit with Kay. When asked about how she liked the 4020 her response was “I hate the dang thing”. He asked her if he could bring her a different tractor and she replied “bring it.” Shorty went back to town and brought her a used 4430 with a factory cab and air conditioner. After one round in the 4430 he asked her what she thought of it. She replied “I love it, leave it here.” At the end of the day when Fred picked her up from the field he inquired “Where in the heck did this tractor come from?” She said “I bought it. And I don’t want to hear anything about it.” The tractor was a common place for her children to help out on the farm as well, although they have more memories of sleeping on the floor of the tractor, than actually working until the later years.
One of Kindi's and Trent’s earliest memories was when Kay found a small snake in her garden while hoeing. She grabbed the kids by their arms; never let their feet even hit the ground, and locked them in the house while she proceeded to chop the poor snake into a million pieces with the hoe. She then called Fred to come and advise her on what kind of snake he though it was.
Although they worked hard, they also took time to play, going on family vacations and to the lake often. Kay would always curl her hair before leaving for the lake. To keep her hair in pristine condition even at the lake, she would wear her white, rubber ski cap to ski; rarely (if ever) falling in the water, she would ski from the shore and finish at the shore. Kay and Fred learned how to snow ski. On one ski trip Kay’s most accomplished feat was juggling a case a beer after falling down the steps of the liquor store. She broke her ankle, but every glass bottle of beer remained intact.
Kay was known for many things. Aside from being a farming partner to Fred, she was a master quilter, travel agent, an incredible cook, and cake decorator. A great chef and baker, there was little that Kay needed a recipe for and it almost always turned out amazing. However, she had one nemesis in the kitchen: pie crust! One weekend when her niece and nephew were visiting, Kay decided to make a cherry pie. Upon hearing…. Well, insert some inappropriate language here…. The children ran into the kitchen to see Kay throwing her pie crust against the cabinet door. It hit the floor; she quickly wadded it up, and angrily threw it in the trash. Needless to say, cherry pie was out… at least for that time.
In 1979 Kindi married the love of her life Dan Kirchenschlager, who became the proud parents of Kay and Fred’s first grandchildren, Amber born in 1982 and Mallori in 1985. In 1987, their son Trent married the love of his life Vicki Canetti. They welcomed their last two grandchildren, Brianna born in 1988 and Dakin in 1991.
Keeping Kay’s impeccable sense of style up-to-date often required hours and hours of power shopping. Fred’s first shopping experience with Kay took place on 16th street in Denver in search of a leather coat. The journey began at the top of 16th street, stopping at every store on one side of the street, crossing over and back up the other side of the street only to return to the first store entered to buy the first coat she tried on, blazing a path in the concrete as they went. This quickly became a common trend in the Bushner family. Christmas brought Kindi and Kay together every year for a day of power shopping. Since Vicki was new to the family Kindi and Kay invited her to go along. They left at 6:00am and returned home at midnight, loading up Kindi’s van with presents for every person on each of their lists. They graced every toy store in Denver to price everything only to return to the original store to purchase all of the toys. Vicki’s impression of this trip was that “we all looked like a bunch of gypsies” because presents were piled so high you couldn’t see out of any of the windows. When Vicki was asked to go the next year she said “absolutely not! You walked my legs off and you never fed me.” Kindi responded, “a pretzel, a Cinnabon, and lemonade is all you need.”
In 1986 Kay was diagnosed with small cell lymphoma. Technology at the time was archaic, but through the struggles of chemo, Kay recovered and lived on to enjoy her life with loved ones and friends. Her strength, love, and compassion drew many people to her. When we think about her in her youth the best description we can give is she was truly a ball of fire.
Kay always drove a sports car, rarely obeying the speed limit, earning the name “hot wheels.” The grandchildren always joked that she was crop dusting instead of driving down the dirt roads. Over the years she demanded a convertible and finally talked Fred into buying two. The irony being that she never once drove with the top down – so as not to mess up her hair.
In 2000 Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer and treatment put her in remission. Her world was rocked again in 2004 when she was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. In 2005 Kay chose to have a stem cell transplant to save her life. Even though she experienced extreme sickness and hair loss, she never missed a single school event that her grandchildren participated in. She continued to live her life, and spread her character and strength throughout the community. She truly became a beacon of light for those who had fallen ill just as she had. We have never seen a person fight so hard for life as she did. Even though Kay faced much adversity in her life, her faith in God never wavered.
She also participated in a number of organizations and was extremely involved in the Yuma community as well as being an active and devoted member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Three of her favorite past times included playing bridge with her closest friends, playing the organ and reading.
Although Kay and Fred went on several trips, Kay’s favorite took place in June of 2012 when she Fred, and Kindi went on a European vacation that fulfilled one of her life long dreams. They traveled throughout Italy, rode the train through Switzerland, spent time in Germany, and ended their trip in Paris France. The highlight of her trip was eating lunch on the second level of the Eiffel Tower.
In 2007 Kay and Fred welcomed a new grandson to the Family. Amber married her high school sweetheart Max Moore in October of 2007. On January 1, 2013, Kay and Fred were blessed with their first great grandchild, Henley Marie. She quickly became the apple of their eye and could raise Kay’s spirits even when she wasn’t feeling her best.
In December of 2013 Kay faced yet another hurdle in her life when she contracted spinal meningitis. Although the odds were stacked against her, she rallied once again to prove how resilient she was in the face of adversity. This disease forever changed her health and contributed greatly to her being reunited with our Lord.
Surviving Kay is her husband of 56 years Fred, daughter Kindi, son Trent and wife Vicki, grandchildren Amber and husband Max, Mallori, Brianna, Dakin, great granddaughter Henley, brother Jim Brower, sister Shirley Ison, sister Sandy and husband Gale Crosier, sister-in-law Xyla Wagner, sister-in-law Mary and husband Jim Nagel, sister-in-law Susan and husband Loris Allen, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Thelma, parents-in-law Otto and Lillyan Bushner, sister-in-law Phyllis Brower, brother-in-law Ron Ison, sister-in-law Jeanne’ and brother-in-law Don Majors, brother-in-law Kenny Wagner, and son-in-law Dan Kirchenschlager.
Throughout her life, Kay exemplified the true meaning of strength and fortitude. She has shown us that pure determination can truly move mountains. There is not a person on this earth that has had an impact like hers on our lives. We hope that her story can also have an impact upon your life. No matter what obstacles you face, remember her story; no obstacle is too great in the face of determination and will. She was the rock of the family and continues to be our rock today.
Kay’s celebration of life was held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Otis, CO with pastor Scott Bieker officiating on May 2, 2015. Interment was at the Yuma Cemetery and memorial contributions were given to Hospice of the Plains. Arrangements were made by Baucke Funeral Home.
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Kay Bushner was born on November 13, 1941, in Yuma, and she passed away on April 26, 2015. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 2 at 2 p.m., at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Otis. An Interment will follow in the Yuma Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Hospice of the Plains, PO Box 365, Wray, CO 80758. Baucke Funeral Home of Yuma is in charge of the arrangements.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kay was born to Bill and Thelma (Brant) Brower on November 13, 1941, six miles south and one-half mile east of the town of Yuma. Her family moved moved to Otis when she was four and she grew up there. She and Fred married August 17, 1958 and moved to Yuma where he had grown up.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kay Brower Bushner was born November 13, 1941 to Bill and Thelma Brant Brower on the family farm. Kay was the 3rd child of 4, having an older brother Jim, older sister Shirley and younger sister Sandie. Kay grew up on the family farm north of Otis, where she was primarily responsible for collecting the eggs and milking the cows (who had a pesky habit of messing up her hair, generally before a date). She didn’t particularly love any of these responsibilities, especially after a skunk surprised her in the chicken coup. Kay was so startled, she ran all the way back to the house and promptly fainted. With the typical farm chaos, it was an impressive feat that Kay was able to always leave the house with impeccable hair, a tradition she always carried throughout her life. The love of Kay’s life, Fred Bushner, robbed the cradle and married her at the tender young age of 16 on August 17, 1958. To this union two children were born, Kindi in 1959 and Trent in 1961. Wanting to earn her GED, Kay pursued her education at Yuma High School and eventually earned her GED from Northeastern Jr. College.
Kay and Fred worked together for their entire married life, building Bushner Farms northwest of Yuma. Kay was not only a mother, but also the right hand woman, cook, homemaker and chief bottle washer. Fred will tell you she was actually the boss. Case in point, on one occasion Kay was working a field with a 4020 John Deere tractor equipped with a swamp cooler. Now remember, Kay went to the field looking the same as she looked for church. At every bump in the field, the cooler would dump muddy water on her precisely styled hair. New to the area was implement dealer Shorty Meis, who was out trying to make friends with the farmers. He stopped by the field to visit with Kay. When asked about how she liked the 4020 her response was “I hate the dang thing”. He asked her if he could bring her a different tractor and she replied “bring it.” Shorty went back to town and brought her a used 4430 with a factory cab and air conditioner. After one round in the 4430 he asked her what she thought of it. She replied “I love it, leave it here.” At the end of the day when Fred picked her up from the field he inquired “Where in the heck did this tractor come from?” She said “I bought it. And I don’t want to hear anything about it.” The tractor was a common place for her children to help out on the farm as well, although they have more memories of sleeping on the floor of the tractor, than actually working until the later years.
One of Kindi's and Trent’s earliest memories was when Kay found a small snake in her garden while hoeing. She grabbed the kids by their arms; never let their feet even hit the ground, and locked them in the house while she proceeded to chop the poor snake into a million pieces with the hoe. She then called Fred to come and advise her on what kind of snake he though it was.
Although they worked hard, they also took time to play, going on family vacations and to the lake often. Kay would always curl her hair before leaving for the lake. To keep her hair in pristine condition even at the lake, she would wear her white, rubber ski cap to ski; rarely (if ever) falling in the water, she would ski from the shore and finish at the shore. Kay and Fred learned how to snow ski. On one ski trip Kay’s most accomplished feat was juggling a case a beer after falling down the steps of the liquor store. She broke her ankle, but every glass bottle of beer remained intact.
Kay was known for many things. Aside from being a farming partner to Fred, she was a master quilter, travel agent, an incredible cook, and cake decorator. A great chef and baker, there was little that Kay needed a recipe for and it almost always turned out amazing. However, she had one nemesis in the kitchen: pie crust! One weekend when her niece and nephew were visiting, Kay decided to make a cherry pie. Upon hearing…. Well, insert some inappropriate language here…. The children ran into the kitchen to see Kay throwing her pie crust against the cabinet door. It hit the floor; she quickly wadded it up, and angrily threw it in the trash. Needless to say, cherry pie was out… at least for that time.
In 1979 Kindi married the love of her life Dan Kirchenschlager, who became the proud parents of Kay and Fred’s first grandchildren, Amber born in 1982 and Mallori in 1985. In 1987, their son Trent married the love of his life Vicki Canetti. They welcomed their last two grandchildren, Brianna born in 1988 and Dakin in 1991.
Keeping Kay’s impeccable sense of style up-to-date often required hours and hours of power shopping. Fred’s first shopping experience with Kay took place on 16th street in Denver in search of a leather coat. The journey began at the top of 16th street, stopping at every store on one side of the street, crossing over and back up the other side of the street only to return to the first store entered to buy the first coat she tried on, blazing a path in the concrete as they went. This quickly became a common trend in the Bushner family. Christmas brought Kindi and Kay together every year for a day of power shopping. Since Vicki was new to the family Kindi and Kay invited her to go along. They left at 6:00am and returned home at midnight, loading up Kindi’s van with presents for every person on each of their lists. They graced every toy store in Denver to price everything only to return to the original store to purchase all of the toys. Vicki’s impression of this trip was that “we all looked like a bunch of gypsies” because presents were piled so high you couldn’t see out of any of the windows. When Vicki was asked to go the next year she said “absolutely not! You walked my legs off and you never fed me.” Kindi responded, “a pretzel, a Cinnabon, and lemonade is all you need.”
In 1986 Kay was diagnosed with small cell lymphoma. Technology at the time was archaic, but through the struggles of chemo, Kay recovered and lived on to enjoy her life with loved ones and friends. Her strength, love, and compassion drew many people to her. When we think about her in her youth the best description we can give is she was truly a ball of fire.
Kay always drove a sports car, rarely obeying the speed limit, earning the name “hot wheels.” The grandchildren always joked that she was crop dusting instead of driving down the dirt roads. Over the years she demanded a convertible and finally talked Fred into buying two. The irony being that she never once drove with the top down – so as not to mess up her hair.
In 2000 Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer and treatment put her in remission. Her world was rocked again in 2004 when she was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. In 2005 Kay chose to have a stem cell transplant to save her life. Even though she experienced extreme sickness and hair loss, she never missed a single school event that her grandchildren participated in. She continued to live her life, and spread her character and strength throughout the community. She truly became a beacon of light for those who had fallen ill just as she had. We have never seen a person fight so hard for life as she did. Even though Kay faced much adversity in her life, her faith in God never wavered.
She also participated in a number of organizations and was extremely involved in the Yuma community as well as being an active and devoted member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Three of her favorite past times included playing bridge with her closest friends, playing the organ and reading.
Although Kay and Fred went on several trips, Kay’s favorite took place in June of 2012 when she Fred, and Kindi went on a European vacation that fulfilled one of her life long dreams. They traveled throughout Italy, rode the train through Switzerland, spent time in Germany, and ended their trip in Paris France. The highlight of her trip was eating lunch on the second level of the Eiffel Tower.
In 2007 Kay and Fred welcomed a new grandson to the Family. Amber married her high school sweetheart Max Moore in October of 2007. On January 1, 2013, Kay and Fred were blessed with their first great grandchild, Henley Marie. She quickly became the apple of their eye and could raise Kay’s spirits even when she wasn’t feeling her best.
In December of 2013 Kay faced yet another hurdle in her life when she contracted spinal meningitis. Although the odds were stacked against her, she rallied once again to prove how resilient she was in the face of adversity. This disease forever changed her health and contributed greatly to her being reunited with our Lord.
Surviving Kay is her husband of 56 years Fred, daughter Kindi, son Trent and wife Vicki, grandchildren Amber and husband Max, Mallori, Brianna, Dakin, great granddaughter Henley, brother Jim Brower, sister Shirley Ison, sister Sandy and husband Gale Crosier, sister-in-law Xyla Wagner, sister-in-law Mary and husband Jim Nagel, sister-in-law Susan and husband Loris Allen, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Thelma, parents-in-law Otto and Lillyan Bushner, sister-in-law Phyllis Brower, brother-in-law Ron Ison, sister-in-law Jeanne’ and brother-in-law Don Majors, brother-in-law Kenny Wagner, and son-in-law Dan Kirchenschlager.
Throughout her life, Kay exemplified the true meaning of strength and fortitude. She has shown us that pure determination can truly move mountains. There is not a person on this earth that has had an impact like hers on our lives. We hope that her story can also have an impact upon your life. No matter what obstacles you face, remember her story; no obstacle is too great in the face of determination and will. She was the rock of the family and continues to be our rock today.
Kay’s celebration of life was held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Otis, CO with pastor Scott Bieker officiating on May 2, 2015. Interment was at the Yuma Cemetery and memorial contributions were given to Hospice of the Plains. Arrangements were made by Baucke Funeral Home.
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Kay was born to Bill and Thelma (Brant) Brower on November 13, 1941, six miles south and one-half mile east of the town of Yuma. Her family moved moved to Otis when she was four and she grew up there. She and Fred married August 17, 1958 and moved to Yuma where he had grown up.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kay Brower Bushner was born November 13, 1941 to Bill and Thelma Brant Brower on the family farm. Kay was the 3rd child of 4, having an older brother Jim, older sister Shirley and younger sister Sandie. Kay grew up on the family farm north of Otis, where she was primarily responsible for collecting the eggs and milking the cows (who had a pesky habit of messing up her hair, generally before a date). She didn’t particularly love any of these responsibilities, especially after a skunk surprised her in the chicken coup. Kay was so startled, she ran all the way back to the house and promptly fainted. With the typical farm chaos, it was an impressive feat that Kay was able to always leave the house with impeccable hair, a tradition she always carried throughout her life. The love of Kay’s life, Fred Bushner, robbed the cradle and married her at the tender young age of 16 on August 17, 1958. To this union two children were born, Kindi in 1959 and Trent in 1961. Wanting to earn her GED, Kay pursued her education at Yuma High School and eventually earned her GED from Northeastern Jr. College.
Kay and Fred worked together for their entire married life, building Bushner Farms northwest of Yuma. Kay was not only a mother, but also the right hand woman, cook, homemaker and chief bottle washer. Fred will tell you she was actually the boss. Case in point, on one occasion Kay was working a field with a 4020 John Deere tractor equipped with a swamp cooler. Now remember, Kay went to the field looking the same as she looked for church. At every bump in the field, the cooler would dump muddy water on her precisely styled hair. New to the area was implement dealer Shorty Meis, who was out trying to make friends with the farmers. He stopped by the field to visit with Kay. When asked about how she liked the 4020 her response was “I hate the dang thing”. He asked her if he could bring her a different tractor and she replied “bring it.” Shorty went back to town and brought her a used 4430 with a factory cab and air conditioner. After one round in the 4430 he asked her what she thought of it. She replied “I love it, leave it here.” At the end of the day when Fred picked her up from the field he inquired “Where in the heck did this tractor come from?” She said “I bought it. And I don’t want to hear anything about it.” The tractor was a common place for her children to help out on the farm as well, although they have more memories of sleeping on the floor of the tractor, than actually working until the later years.
One of Kindi's and Trent’s earliest memories was when Kay found a small snake in her garden while hoeing. She grabbed the kids by their arms; never let their feet even hit the ground, and locked them in the house while she proceeded to chop the poor snake into a million pieces with the hoe. She then called Fred to come and advise her on what kind of snake he though it was.
Although they worked hard, they also took time to play, going on family vacations and to the lake often. Kay would always curl her hair before leaving for the lake. To keep her hair in pristine condition even at the lake, she would wear her white, rubber ski cap to ski; rarely (if ever) falling in the water, she would ski from the shore and finish at the shore. Kay and Fred learned how to snow ski. On one ski trip Kay’s most accomplished feat was juggling a case a beer after falling down the steps of the liquor store. She broke her ankle, but every glass bottle of beer remained intact.
Kay was known for many things. Aside from being a farming partner to Fred, she was a master quilter, travel agent, an incredible cook, and cake decorator. A great chef and baker, there was little that Kay needed a recipe for and it almost always turned out amazing. However, she had one nemesis in the kitchen: pie crust! One weekend when her niece and nephew were visiting, Kay decided to make a cherry pie. Upon hearing…. Well, insert some inappropriate language here…. The children ran into the kitchen to see Kay throwing her pie crust against the cabinet door. It hit the floor; she quickly wadded it up, and angrily threw it in the trash. Needless to say, cherry pie was out… at least for that time.
In 1979 Kindi married the love of her life Dan Kirchenschlager, who became the proud parents of Kay and Fred’s first grandchildren, Amber born in 1982 and Mallori in 1985. In 1987, their son Trent married the love of his life Vicki Canetti. They welcomed their last two grandchildren, Brianna born in 1988 and Dakin in 1991.
Keeping Kay’s impeccable sense of style up-to-date often required hours and hours of power shopping. Fred’s first shopping experience with Kay took place on 16th street in Denver in search of a leather coat. The journey began at the top of 16th street, stopping at every store on one side of the street, crossing over and back up the other side of the street only to return to the first store entered to buy the first coat she tried on, blazing a path in the concrete as they went. This quickly became a common trend in the Bushner family. Christmas brought Kindi and Kay together every year for a day of power shopping. Since Vicki was new to the family Kindi and Kay invited her to go along. They left at 6:00am and returned home at midnight, loading up Kindi’s van with presents for every person on each of their lists. They graced every toy store in Denver to price everything only to return to the original store to purchase all of the toys. Vicki’s impression of this trip was that “we all looked like a bunch of gypsies” because presents were piled so high you couldn’t see out of any of the windows. When Vicki was asked to go the next year she said “absolutely not! You walked my legs off and you never fed me.” Kindi responded, “a pretzel, a Cinnabon, and lemonade is all you need.”
In 1986 Kay was diagnosed with small cell lymphoma. Technology at the time was archaic, but through the struggles of chemo, Kay recovered and lived on to enjoy her life with loved ones and friends. Her strength, love, and compassion drew many people to her. When we think about her in her youth the best description we can give is she was truly a ball of fire.
Kay always drove a sports car, rarely obeying the speed limit, earning the name “hot wheels.” The grandchildren always joked that she was crop dusting instead of driving down the dirt roads. Over the years she demanded a convertible and finally talked Fred into buying two. The irony being that she never once drove with the top down – so as not to mess up her hair.
In 2000 Kay was diagnosed with breast cancer and treatment put her in remission. Her world was rocked again in 2004 when she was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. In 2005 Kay chose to have a stem cell transplant to save her life. Even though she experienced extreme sickness and hair loss, she never missed a single school event that her grandchildren participated in. She continued to live her life, and spread her character and strength throughout the community. She truly became a beacon of light for those who had fallen ill just as she had. We have never seen a person fight so hard for life as she did. Even though Kay faced much adversity in her life, her faith in God never wavered.
She also participated in a number of organizations and was extremely involved in the Yuma community as well as being an active and devoted member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church. Three of her favorite past times included playing bridge with her closest friends, playing the organ and reading.
Although Kay and Fred went on several trips, Kay’s favorite took place in June of 2012 when she Fred, and Kindi went on a European vacation that fulfilled one of her life long dreams. They traveled throughout Italy, rode the train through Switzerland, spent time in Germany, and ended their trip in Paris France. The highlight of her trip was eating lunch on the second level of the Eiffel Tower.
In 2007 Kay and Fred welcomed a new grandson to the Family. Amber married her high school sweetheart Max Moore in October of 2007. On January 1, 2013, Kay and Fred were blessed with their first great grandchild, Henley Marie. She quickly became the apple of their eye and could raise Kay’s spirits even when she wasn’t feeling her best.
In December of 2013 Kay faced yet another hurdle in her life when she contracted spinal meningitis. Although the odds were stacked against her, she rallied once again to prove how resilient she was in the face of adversity. This disease forever changed her health and contributed greatly to her being reunited with our Lord.
Surviving Kay is her husband of 56 years Fred, daughter Kindi, son Trent and wife Vicki, grandchildren Amber and husband Max, Mallori, Brianna, Dakin, great granddaughter Henley, brother Jim Brower, sister Shirley Ison, sister Sandy and husband Gale Crosier, sister-in-law Xyla Wagner, sister-in-law Mary and husband Jim Nagel, sister-in-law Susan and husband Loris Allen, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of friends.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents Bill and Thelma, parents-in-law Otto and Lillyan Bushner, sister-in-law Phyllis Brower, brother-in-law Ron Ison, sister-in-law Jeanne’ and brother-in-law Don Majors, brother-in-law Kenny Wagner, and son-in-law Dan Kirchenschlager.
Throughout her life, Kay exemplified the true meaning of strength and fortitude. She has shown us that pure determination can truly move mountains. There is not a person on this earth that has had an impact like hers on our lives. We hope that her story can also have an impact upon your life. No matter what obstacles you face, remember her story; no obstacle is too great in the face of determination and will. She was the rock of the family and continues to be our rock today.
Kay’s celebration of life was held at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Otis, CO with pastor Scott Bieker officiating on May 2, 2015. Interment was at the Yuma Cemetery and memorial contributions were given to Hospice of the Plains. Arrangements were made by Baucke Funeral Home.
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