Jim Busch extolled on his 99th Birthday!

GLENWOOD CITY — Donald “Jim” Busch was the center of activity on Wednesday, June 19 as many community members, friends, and relatives gathered in the dinning room of Havenwood to wish Jim a happy 99th birthday. The following was written by a former Glenwood City coach to recognize Jim for his loyalty to the Glenwood City High School athletic teams. 

I would like to honor the man who gave me (as a coach) not only moral support, but also financial support during my coaching days at G.C.H.S. The best way I can say “Thank You” is by writing a true story about this “die-hard” Hilltopper fan.

Selma and Albert Busch had three children. They lived on a small farm north of Glenwood City. All three children graduated from Glenwood City High School, Leanord in 1943, Jim in 1945, and Gladys in 1948.

This story is about Jim Busch and parts of his colorful life. At the age of twelve, he would shovel the side walk for H.H. Dean an attorney in Glenwood City. Every time it snowed, Jim would earn 50 cents. Jim said, “I prayed for snow because 50 cents was a lot of money back then!” No one had much money, the war was on and people just didn’t have any money,” said Jim. He shared that during the early 40’s the farmers were so poor that the Farmers Bank went broke.

One Halloween, the local kids were out playing pranks. H.H. Dean lived on the corner of Third Street and … he had an outdoor toilet. So … some pranksters tipped the outhouse over. Unfortunately, Mr. Dean was inside!!!!! Jim said, “I was not involved because I worked for Mr. Dean and I liked him.”

At the age of twelve, Jim started driving around the countryside. He drove a truck and delivered freight. So, he was always on the look-out for the local police. Several times he would pull over and wait for the police to drive out of sight and then continue on with his deliveries!

Jim did not like school. Sitting still and doing school work was not for him. He loved playing basketball. It was-always a challenge to score, play defense, and work to steal the ball. As a sophomore in 1943, Jim Busch said he was tied as the second leading scorer on the Glenwood City Boys’ Basketball Team. The Hilltoppers defeated Downing 11-10 in the old Downing Gym. Chuck Rasmussen scored three points and Jim two.

Jim loved following the Glenwood City basketball teams and he was able to watch some of the best Glenwood City Basketball players . He saw all-time leading scorer Scott DeWyre (1998), Mick Lauber (1955), Tim Klatt (1993), Jeff Garske (1968) and Nick Ohman (2001). He commented, “They were all good basketball players and fun to watch!” “Mick was really a good all-around athlete as he played two sports in college and was drafted by the Detroit Lions.”

In the Fall of 1943, prior to school starting, Jim Busch was approached by Mrs. Howard Dicky. Howard owned the bank in Glenwood City. He and his wife, Lucy, also owned one of the two school buses that hauled students from the country into town. Jim was able to take a driving test with the school bus. Alfie Schrank’s dad was a county policeman and Mr. Kruger was a state police officer. Both men lived in Glenwood City and were the only county officers in St. Croix County. So … Jim had to take the two officers for a ride in the school bus. They had him back the school bus up into the current location of the bank. As a result, to many students surprise, their first morning getting on the bus, their driver was sixteen-year-old Jim Busch, a junior in high school.

Jim delivered the students on time with no problems. However, on the second day while going home, the kids were noisy and raising havoc! So … he stopped the bus north of town by the train trestle and said, “If you cannot behave, then you cannot ride the bus!” Then … he kicked all 30 students off of the bus and they all had to walk home! While driving the empty bus back to Howard Dickey’s garage, Jim became worried that he might be in trouble for his actions. He parked the bus and took the keys home with him and then hid. He was afraid that the parents would be upset with him and come to his house and yell at him. No one came … no one even called!

The next morning, Jim drove to school with a bus load of students. The students were well behaved and it was a quiet ride. However, as he pulled into school, he was greeted by the principal Mr. Gordy Nelson and the school board members standing outside the high school. “Who hired you to drive the school bus?” was their question. Jim explained that as a result of men fighting in the war, Mrs. Dickey could not find a driver and since he had passed the driving test, she has hired him.

Mr. Nelson, the school board members and Jim then went into the principle’s office. They called Mrs. Dickey and complained about the fact that Jim Busch was a “sixteen-year-old student” driving a school bus.

However, since Mr. and Mrs. Dickey owned the school bus, Mrs. Dickey said, “If Jim Busch does not drive the bus, then no one will drive the bus!”

At that time, they only had two school buses, one picked up students from the north and the other from the south. No one could argue with Mrs. Dickey. Therefore Jim Busch drove the school bus both his junior and senior years of high school!!

Jim stated that there was one advantage to driving the school bus. That was because there was a pretty girl who was a 9th grader at G.C.H.S. Her name was Jeanette Nelson and she lived southwest of town toward Woodville. Jeanette’s two older brothers had graduated from Woodville High School. However, she had decided to attend Glenwood City. Jeanette was smart in school, but I was a poor student.” He said that when he dropped her off with the bus, he would drive her right up to the front door! The other students on the bus would complain because they felt he was favoring her!

Jeanette and Jim were married on June 10th 1950. The couple had four beautiful daughters. Cheryl (Jerry McCarthy), Valori (Larry Zabel), Gloria (Joe Walz), and Trudy Busch. All of the girls have been successful in their own right.

Jim Busch spent his life in the cattle business. He got into that business because of his father-in-law “Big Bill Nelson.” Aptly named because he was 6’6” tall and weighed over 350 pounds. Bill Nelson sent Jim to buy a calf for $15.00. After Jim bought the calf, he stopped at another farm. That farmer saw the calf and asked how much the calf would cost and Jim said $25.00! This was the beginning of Jim’s career of buying and selling cattle throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota! Jim drove millions of miles without a speeding ticket or an accident.

Jim was always there to help out the basketball coach. Each year the varsity basketball players would need to purchase shooting shirts, new basketball shoes, a game day pull over, etc. There were always a couple of boys who did not have the money to purchase these items on their own.

Year after year, Jim Busch would come to the rescue of the basketball team (with no recognition). He would open his billfold and donate money so that the boys would not feel embarrassed. If some of the varsity players were eating at the local restaurant and Jim happened to stop by, he would pick up the tab. Jim loved watching the town games in his favorite seat and cheering on the Hilltoppers. He expected no recognition for what he did for all of those teams throughout the years.

On behalf of all the athletes and myself who you helped during my career at Glenwood City School District.

Thank you so very, very much …. Sugar Daddy!!!!!