Roscoe Harold Buck

Roscoe Harold Buck, the son of Roscoe August and Lillian Katherine (Matthiessen) Buck, was born on February 25, 1930, in rural Panama, Iowa. He was one of eleven children. On June 16, 1931, when Roscoe was only a year old, his father died. The family moved to Shelby, Iowa, in March, 1932, where Roscoe attended the Shelby school. He then worked at the Avoca (Iowa) Alfalfa Mill and farmed. On October 18, 1952, Roscoe married Loretta Mae Fries at the First Presbyterian Church in Shelby. From December 10, 1952 to December 9, 1954, he served in the U.S. Army in the Korean Conflict. Following his discharge, he returned to farming and also worked many other agriculture-related jobs in Harlan, Iowa.

Roscoe enjoyed being around horses and was a member of the Shelby Saddle Club. He took his horse, Queenie, and antique buggy to many parades. He also liked antique John Deere tractors. Roscoe cared for a large garden, and tended many cattle and horses through the years.

Roscoe H. Buck died on Thursday, May 8, 2008, at Creighton University Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska, having reached the age of 78 years, 2 months, and 13 days.

Roscoe was preceded in death by his parents, Roscoe A. and Lillian K. Buck; one brother, Lowell Buck; and one sister, Veta Bock. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Loretta Buck of Tennant, Iowa; four sons, Steve (Sue) Buck of Tennant, Iowa, Gerald (Kim) Buck of Shelby, Iowa, Dana Buck of Tennant, Iowa, and Gordon Buck of Portsmouth, Iowa; one daughter, Connie (Tracey) McMorran of Bettendorf, Iowa; one former daughter-in-law, Trudi Buck of Harlan, Iowa; seven sisters, Bessie Langer of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Mildred Whannell of Harlan, Iowa, Lois Mortensen of Harlan, Iowa, Alta Hamilton of San Antonio, Texas, Vera (Wayne) Raasch of Harlan, Iowa, Edna Barton of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Retha Buck of New York, New York; one brother, Robert (Aletha) Buck of Shelby, Iowa; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; and two step-great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held on Monday, May 12, 2008, at the Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan, Iowa, with Jim Boardman officiating. Honorary casket bearers were Charles Kloewer and Gerald Kirsch. Active casket bearers were Chris Buck, Cory Buck, Jackie Schumacher, Craig Buck, Jamie Gaudet, Tiffany McMorran, Shaun Buck, Mandy Rath, and Erin Buck. Burial was in the Shelby Cemetery in Shelby, Iowa. The Burmeister-Johannsen Funeral Home in Harlan was in charge of the arrangements.