George S. Buresh
A resident of Jordan, George S. Buresh, age 80, died unexpectedly on the afternoon of Monday, September 15, 2014. Visitation will be Thursday, September 18, from 4-7 pm at Ballard Sunder Funeral Home, Jordan with an additional visitation from 10-11am on Friday at the Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, September 19, at 11:00 am at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church, Prior Lake. Father Orlando Tatel will preside. Pallbearers will be Ryan Elke, Joshua Diers, John Buresh, Greg Haun, Alexander Buresh, Joseph Buresh, Jeffrey Buresh, Michael Heitz, Donny Mullen, Jr. and George Gartner. The Jordan Vets Honor Guard will provide Full Military Honors. Interment will be at St. Catherine’s Catholic Cemetery.
On February 24, 1934, George Steve Buresh was born in New Hradec, ND to parents, Steve and Mary (Adamski) Buresh. He was the middle child of five siblings. He and his siblings were known to be mischievous, as they would do things such as giving whiskey to their chickens, digging wells using dynamite and shooting their dad with a BB gun in the back end. He spent 12 years at boarding schools; he later graduated from high school in 1952 from St. Procopius Academy in Lisle, IL.
He met Irene Reddy on a blind date, and after seeing her for the first time, he knew she was his one true love. During their dating period, George joined the military, but he did not forget about Irene, as they would send letters back and forth. His love for her was so strong that he stenciled her name onto the military truck that he drove. On one of his leaves from the military he married Irene (Reddy) on January 7, 1956 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Graceville, MN. They were blessed with seven children, Steven, Catherine, David, Daniel, Cynthia, Julie, Richard. He proudly served his term in the US Army, 82 nd Airborne, where he was a Combat Photographer.
From 1958 to 1968, he operated the family farm along with his father, and ran a carpentry business, (Buresh Construction) just outside of Jamestown, ND. In 1968, the family moved to Minnesota and George was employed by Lakeside Industries from 1968 to 1986 as an Industrial Maintenance Supervisor. He continued his work as an Industrial Maintenance Supervisor at Cannon Equipment from 1987 to 1999. He was well known for making prototype toys that would be shown at the New York toy convention.
After his retirement in 1999, George stayed busy by fixing most anything, but was best known for his woodworking, making intricate clocks, jewelry boxes and model toys, many made with exotic inlaid wood.
George had a humorous side and loved to play pranks on many. While at Lakeside Industries, he would take off his prosthesis and place it on the assembly line, causing havoc with all the workers. He thought the kids should be early risers, so he came up with the “water of life” ritual, where he would come up to the kids bedrooms to wake them up, and if they didn’t, he performed the ritual,…….. which always worked. He also liked to e-mail his children jokes, followed up by a call to see how they liked the joke.
He was a generous man who gave away many of his woodworking projects to his family and church. George enjoyed watching All Star Wrestling, Classic Cartoons, Lawrence Welk, playing games on the computer and playing cards with Irene and the neighbors. His children will miss their annual phone call from Dad, as he would always sing happy birthday to them on their special day. Irene will miss the red roses and romantic cards she would frequently receive.
A proud family man, jokester and one whose eyes would light up from his own laugh, George will be sorely missed by his wife, Irene; children, Steve (Wendy) Buresh of Chanhassen, Cathy (Terry) Elke of Carver, Dave (Bonnie) Buresh of Jordan, Daniel (Therese) Buresh of Jordan, Cindy (Kyle) Oestreich of Le Sueur, Richard (Amber) Buresh of Stillwater; 12 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; siblings, Mary Ann Dolechek of Dickinson, ND, Laudie (Mary) Buresh of Vienna, VA, Sr. Margaret Buresh of St. Paul, MN; brother in law, Michael Backsen of Buena Vista, CO.
Preceded in death and there to welcome George home is his daughter, Julie; parents, Steve and Mary Buresh; sister, Marcie Backsen.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Jordan Chapel, proudly served the Buresh family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
