Gus was born to Camiel and Emma (DeBacker) Buysse in East Eckloo, Belgium, on December 29, 1919. In June of 1920, Gus and his parents and brothers Cyril and Leo Buysse boarded a ship to come to America. They came through Ellis Island to register for US Citizenship and settled in Southwest Minnesota. Gus never forgot how to speak the Belgian language, Flemish. He spoke it with his wife Florence around the dinner table, and also served as an interpreter when family visited from Belgium.
Gus met Florence DeBaere at a barn dance and later was married on February 15, 1944. The couple enjoyed going to dances, dancing to a polka, waltz, or a foxtrot and later square dancing.
Gus grew up on a farm south of Marshall and later farmed that same farm along with the support of his wife. He grew corn, beans, and oats and milked cows, had pigs, cattle, sheep and chickens and always had a large garden. He continued helping on the farm until he was 80 years old. Gus also enjoyed fishing and playing cards.
Gus and his brother-in-law Louie DeBaere joined the Army on the same day and served during World War 2. Gus was stationed on the island of Guam and fought against the Japanese in the jungle of that island.
Gus died on Saturday, April 9, 2016, at the Minneota Manor in Minneota. He is survived by his daughters Elaine (and Bob) Olin of Lynd, JoAnn (and Tom) Meier of La Vista, NE, Diane Seidl of Sedalia, MO, and his sons Larry (and Bonnie) of Tracy, Steve of Marshall, Doug of Cottonwood and Chuck (and Cheri) of Marshall, 16 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Vicki “Sis†Faragher and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Florence, son James, parents Camiel and Emma brothers Cyril and Leo and sisters Mary DeBaere and Louise Labat.
