Debra S. Busch

Debra S. Busch
March 17, 1955 - September 16, 2025

Debra S. Busch, 70, of Holgate, died September 16, 2025 at Tidewell Hospice in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Deb was born in Bowling Green, Ohio to parents Robert and Velma Jean Rutter on St. Patrick’s Day 1955.  It was a day she would commemorate with green beer and tacky jewelry for many years.  In 1973, she graduated from Patrick Henry High School, where she established many cherished lifelong friendships. 

On February 26 1982 she married Donald “Butch” Busch, who survives.  Together they had three children — Patrick, Alaina and Tessa. Deb and Butch spent 15 wonderful winters in Florida.  Deb loved to swim, whether at the Deshler pool growing up, vacations to Florida beaches, summer days at Bishop’s pond,  or — in her later years — her very own pool. 

Deb trained as an accountant and leveraged her love of math in many ways.  She fondly recalled working late nights managing Bogart’s, a disco in Napoleon, and cursing like a sailor driving forklift at the Campbell’s Soup factory.  She volunteered for decades at the Hamler Summerfest, an event she insisted on attending even as her cancer progressed over the summer. 

She absolutely thrived in the role of grandmother.  She spent the pandemic caring for her granddaughters in suburban D.C., passing on her green thumb, and love of foraging morels.  She was proud of her granddaughters’ burgeoning love of math and took credit for those genes.

Deb was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Bob, Phil and Bill Rutter, and her son, Patrick.  She is survived by her husband; sister, Cindy (Larry) Knepley; sister-in-law, Debbie (Bill) Rutter; daughters, Alaina (Bryan) McBournie and Tessa (Madeline Wellman) Busch; three granddaughters Gwendolyn, Cecilia and Margot McBournie; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends.

Deb’s family also invites you to play anything by ABBA, Air Supply, Barry Manilow, or Queen and make a toast to our special lady.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 10, 2025 at Feehan-Rodenberger Funeral Home with Rev. James Budke officiating.  Graveside services will be in Woodlawn Cemetery and a fellowship luncheon will follow at the Hamler American Legion Post #262.  Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at the funeral home and from 10-11 prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Trevor Project, Tidewell Hospice Foundation, or St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital. 

Messages and memories can be left for the family at www.feehanrodenbergerfuneralhome.

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