Claire Elizabeth Busacker
January 15, 1935 - August 25, 2019
Obituary
MADISON - Claire E. Busacker, age 84, of Madison, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, at UW Hospital and Clinics. She was born on Jan. 15, 1935, in Providence, RI, the daughter of Ed and Adah (Fiske) Smith. She married Robert Busacker on June 25, 1960 in Silver Spring, MD.
Claire was a member of St. Stephen's Lutheran Church and the Monona Senior Center. She was a proud supporter of her many God children in Africa, India, Philippines and Ecuador through ChildFund. Claire was a Cub Scout Leader. She enjoyed being outdoors and in nature especially at Devil's Lake and Lake Kegonsa. She loved going on picnics and taking camping trips with her family. Claire liked painting, inspirational poetry and musicals. She loved animals, especially her furry companions, Sholley and Liesel. She enjoyed living at Meadowmere and treasured the friendships she made while she resided there the past 18 years.
Claire is survived by her sons, Ed (Robbi) Busacker, Jim (Karolyn) Busacker and David (Dianne) Watterson; seven grandchildren, Wayne, David, Henry, Adam, Aria, Sam and Chloe; three great-grandchildren, Carter, Ellie and Skylar and a 4th greatly anticipated; sister, Ruth Colburn; brother-in-law, Cesar Beltran; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert; sisters, Karyl Beltran and Helen Henley; brothers-in-law, Richard Colburn and August Busacker, and sister-in-law Ruth Busacker.
A funeral service will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, with the Rev. Elisa Brandt presiding. Visitation will be held at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of the service on Saturday.
Memorials may be made to the National Forest Foundation in her name here:
https://www.nationalforests.org/donate/give. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.
Gunderson East
Funeral & Cremation Care
5203 Monona Drive
(608) 221-5420
Events
Visitation
Sat Aug 31, 2019 @ 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Service
Sat Aug 31, 2019 @ 11:00 AM CDT
Gunderson Funeral and Cremation Care - Madison • 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, WI 53716
Photos
No photos of Claire have been shared yet.
Memories
EB
Ed Busacker
Other •
I don't know why, but a simple childhood pleasure comes to mind when I see this photo even though this was taken decades later. I was born in the late 60's and was therefore a little kid in the 70's. Mom used to make popsicles in plastic molds for my brother and I and our friends, which were the best in the summertime, since back then we didn't have air conditioning. That's just one simple thoughtful thing among thousands she did for us while we were growing up.
Love you Mom!
Ed Busacker
BB
Bill Busacker
Other •
Ed, Jim, and families,
Our heartfelt condolences to you at the passing of your mom. I remember those family get togethers on 88th Street in Milwaukee with your family and ours many years ago. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We will not be able to travel from Colorado to be at your mom's service in person, but we will be there in spirit and in thought.
Bill and Sue Busacker
RC
Ruth Colburn
Other •
I send all my love and support to all the family. My sister had a great sense of humor and a cheerful spirit. I live in PA so we kept in touch by phone. I will miss her laugh when I called her and said something a little funny. One childhood memory is of a picnic that we took by foot to a wooded hill and sat on the ground and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I was 6 years younger than Claire, so that was a big adventure!
Ruth Smith Colburn