Mary “Janie” Busch, age 85, of Jordan and Chaska, MN, passed peacefully in the presence of her family, on Friday, December 2, 2022, at Augustana Chapel View Care Center, in Hopkins, MN.
A visitation will be on Tuesday, December 13, from 4-7 pm, at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 104 West First Street, Jordan and Wednesday, December 14, from 10-10:45 am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, at 11 am, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 16400 Duluth Avenue SE, Prior Lake, MN. Fr. Tom Walker will preside, with pall bearers of Matthew Huss, Andrew Huss, Michael Huss, Martin Huss, Reese Busch, Aiden Wall, Jeff Truitt, and Tyler Stone. Interment at St. John Calvary Cemetery, in Jordan.
The faith filled life of Mary Jane all began in the home of Charles and Katherine (Lewinsky) Ploen, on March 10, 1937 . Born and raised in Jordan, she was flanked by two brothers, James and Lester. Mary attended St. John Catholic School through the Eighth Grade and graduated from Jordan High School in 1955. The Ploen family enjoyed time each summer fishing, swimming and being together at their cabin on Mitchell Lake, in northern, MN.
Unbeknown to Mary, she was introduced to her future husband, Gerald M. Busch, on a blind date through mutual friends. The love connection grew and on May 12, 1956, they wedded at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Mary and Jerry established a home in Jordan, where seven children soon followed: Jeff, Bryan, Sheri, Lynn, Chuck, Lori, and Kris.
Mary was an incredible cook. She often whipped up large meals out of nothing when her kids were young, and she loved to bake and decorate elaborate cakes for special occasions. She created hundreds of cakes in her lifetime, shaping and decorating them to resemble Pokémon and Sesame Street characters, trains and trucks, sports logos, and other designs customized to delight her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at birthday parties, graduations, and other celebrations.
Mary’s creativity extended beyond the kitchen. She spent hours every October at her sewing machine, designing and creating intricate Halloween costumes for her children and grandchildren, who went trick-or-treating in homemade outfits depicting farm animals, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, playing cards, and other elaborate designs. A gifted and imaginative artist, Mary enjoyed drawing, coloring, and creating games and art projects to complete with her family. An avid reader and a regular at the public library, Mary inhaled books and daily newspapers. She also loved to write, and all her relatives – and their spouses – received in the mail a card with a personalized message, handwritten in perfect cursive, on every birthday and anniversary.
Mary never left the house without a deck of cards and a Cribbage board. A fierce competitor who was never shy to engage in some lighthearted trash-talk, she kept a meticulous log of her opponents and the results of her matches. She taught her children and grandchildren how to play her favorite card games before happily schooling them at all future family gatherings. She also loved playing cards with her girlfriends, meeting and competing with the same group for more than 50 years.
Mary had a deep and resounding faith, and it showed in her everyday life. She was kind, unselfish, and compassionate. Although she sometimes had to work two jobs – in addition to being a dedicated wife and mother — to help provide for her seven children, she still found time to volunteer within the church and the community. Mary was active in CCD, the Boy Scouts, the JCCW, and youth groups. In later years, she was active with the MS Society and Friends of the Library, and she volunteered to play cards with elderly residents at Auburn Manor in Chaska.
Ultimately, however, Mary’s greatest passion was her family and friends, for whom she cared deeply. In addition to being a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, she was a teacher, a mentor, and a role model who left a lasting legacy by teaching and practicing the greatest gift: how to love.
Despite the challenges Mary faced throughout life, she persevered! In 1961, Mary struggles with her health began. She was misdiagnosed with Polio, with years later diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Despite the setbacks through the years, Mary’s drive to continue to strive and fight was clear. She lived each day to the fullest.
Mary’s deep faith, quick wit and gentle heart will continue to live out in those she loved the most – children, Jeff (Lisa) Busch, Bryan (Emily) Busch, Sheri (Richard Patch) Busch, Lynn Busch, Chuck (Deb) Busch, Lori (Marty) Huss, Kris (Miranda) Busch; grandchildren, Rachel, Jolene, Kari, Kim, Britney, Amanda, Matthew, Andrew, Michael, Martin, Paige, Reese, Jackie: many great-grandchildren; brothers, James Ploen, Lester (Betty) Ploen; other relatives and friends. Greeting Mary in eternal peace is her husband, Jerry; granddaughter, Melanie Busch-Huss; parents, Charles and Katherine; and sister-in-law, Bets Ploen.
