Elmer J. Buessing, 80, of Baileyville, KS, lost his long battle against cancer on Friday, June 24, 2011 at his home.

He was born on January 1, 1931 on a farm south of Baileyville to John and Clara (Rochel) Buessing. He attended the country school in Baileyville and also the Albany Country School in Sabetha. He graduated from the Baileyville High School in 1950. He served in the Navy from 1951 to 1955, during which time he was assigned to the USS Chevalier DDR-805 as a Fire Control Technician Third Class. He toured the Philippines, Hawaii, Japan and China during the Korean War.

He married Grace Mary Henry on October 4, 1956 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, KS. The couple celebrated 54 years of marriage. They lived in the home that Elmer was born in, south of Baileyville for six years. In 1962, they purchased their present home after the sudden death of his father, to be near his mother to help her on the farm. He then built his own dairy operation and was a Grade A dairy operator for 40 years and has farmed for 54 years. Elmer loved farming! He prided himself with trying to save family farms through his work with the National Farmers Organization. He was also a sales representative for Na-Churs Fertilizer Company and Archer Oil.

When Elmer retired from farming he started a part-time job with Koch and Company, which he enjoyed for eight years.

He was a member of the local National Farmers Organization, Farmers Union, Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville, and the Axtell VFW. Elmer relished his seven children, 20 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren with another grandchild on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Clara (Rochel) Buessing; a sister, Marjorie (Buessing) Wetter; and brothers, Gerald, Martin and Bernal Buessing.

He is survived by his wife Grace of the home; seven children, Linda (Jim) Heinen of Seneca, Gary (Jane) Buessing of Axtell, Diane (Gary) Haverkamp of Corning , Patty (Rex) Lowe of Kirwin, Gena (Todd) Swart of Seneca, Amy (Mark) Hutto of Winfield and Jake Buessing of Manhattan; a brother, Robert Buessing of Baileyville; sisters, Elsie Sunneberg of Pawnee City, NE, Anita Buessing of Tuscan, AZ and Helen Meysenberg of Lee’s Summit, MO; 20 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM Monday, June 27, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Baileyville. Rosaries will be prayed at 2 & 7 PM Sunday, June 26, at Sacred Heart Church. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be given in Elmer’s memory for Abundant Life Hospice, or Sacred Heart Church, or COINS for a Cause, or the Redneck Games, Wetmore, KS.