Martin "Marty" Bussman

Martin "Marty" Bussman passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Friday, August 1st, 2025, at the age of 76. He was born March 6, 1949, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, to Lawrence Bussman and Anna Meier. He helped work the family farm in his youth and graduated from Stewartville High School in 1967. He then went on to study Electronics at Austin Vocational Technical School, graduating with the class of 1969. In April of 1969, Marty enlisted in the Air Force and spent four years serving his country as a radio communications specialist, including time stationed on Ascension Island.

Marty married his high school sweetheart, JoAnn Johnson, on December 27, 1969, in Stewartville, MN, and they started a family in 1972 while stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. After being discharged, in 1973, Marty, JoAnn and their young son, Kristopher, moved back to Minnesota and bought a home in St. Louis Park. In the years to follow, they welcomed two more sons, Brett and Ryan, and lovingly raised their family. Marty took pride in doing all his own home projects, teaching his sons how to plumb, landscape, roof, build and many more skills along the way. He was also a mainstay at his son's baseball and football games, always making time to throw batting practice wherever they were. Later in life, Marty loved spending time with his five grandchildren-in the stands at games, playing in the backyard, and fishing at the lake.
Shortly after moving back to the state, Marty took a job as an audio/visual technician at the University of Minnesota, where he proudly worked for his entire career. He loved his job and would fondly tell stories of working with stars, like Robin Williams, who would perform at Northrup Auditorium. His true joy was working Gopher athletics, which he did throughout his career. You could often see Marty courtside at Gopher basketball games, down on the field for football games, or setting up Gopher's events at the State Fair. He was celebrated for his dedication several times through his career before retiring after 40+ years. Even retirement couldn't slow Marty down, as he continued to work freelance at the U of M until 2020.

Marty could (and would) strike up a conversation with anybody, endearing him to just about anyone he encountered and putting him on a first name basis wherever he went. He was quick with a witty remark right up to the end, charming nurses and doctors with his off-the-cuff comments.

He is survived by his mother, Anna; his wife, JoAnn Bussman; children Kristopher (Tara) Bussman, Brett (Jen) Bussman, and Ryan (Tammy) Bussman; grandchildren Allyson (Karl), Bryant, Henry, Oscar, and Elias; siblings Margaret (Bill) Reimers, Andrew (Paula) Bussman, Lawrence (Gretchen) Bussman, William (Rita) Bussmann, Albert (Sam) Bussman, John (Deb) Bussmann, Konrad (Tahsin) Bussmann, Benedict (Barb) Bussman, Mary (Tracy) Bussman, Loraine (Rossi) Burton and Yolanda (Steve) Labatte-Koball. He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence; brothers Henry Bussman, Richard "Ricky" Bussman, and Bernard "Bernie" Bussman.

A party to celebrate Marty's life will take place from 1 to 4 pm, Sunday, August 17, with a time of sharing beginning at 2:00 pm, in the University Hall at McNamara Alumni Center on the University of Minnesota campus (https://mac-events.org/). A private interment will take place at a later date at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Arrangements are with Washburn-McReavey Funeral Homes - Hopkins Chapel / 1400 Mainstreet / Hopkins/ MN 55343 / 952-938-9020

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