Darwin Henry Buhman

1931 - 2013

GUTTENBERG - Darwin Henry Buhman, 82, of Guttenberg, died Friday, Nov. 8, 2013 at Mercy Medical Center in Dubuque. 
Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at Tuecke-Allyn Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 207 S. First, Guttenberg, where the family will receive friends from 10 a.m. to service time.
Darwin was born Jan. 16, 1931 in Waverly, Iowa, the son of Wilhemina "Minnie" (Bade) and Henry Buhman.
As a child he lived in Waverly and Faribault, Minn., before returning to Waverly and graduating from Waverly High School where he was active in wrestling. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 where he was with the Military Air Transport Services. Following his military service he worked for John Deere in Waterloo. Darwin met his wife Carol Reiher and they married in July of 1956 and lived in Waverly. They moved to Mason City, where he worked as a charter pilot and flight instructor. He loved flying and made that his career. 
In 1958 they moved to Bainbridge, Ga., where he was a fighter jet flight instructor on a military base. In 1961 Darwin, along with his brother Harold managed the flight operations at airports in Oelwein, Ames, and Davenport. He had many other careers such as crop dusting, a merchant in Oelwein, co-owner of a grain elevator, part owner of an implement business in Edgewood, and had a lawn care business.
Darwin has been a member of the Masonic Lodge, Eastern Star of Iowa, El Kahir Shrine organization, Rotary Club, Oelwein Chamber of Commerce, Elks Club, Eagles Club, American Legion ?and Quiet Birdman Flying Club. Darwin was a "River Rat." He loved boating, fishing, and sand-barring on the Mississippi River. He and Carol eventually moved to Guttenberg to be closer to the river he loved. 
Darwin is survived by his wife Carol (Reiher); 4 children, Cheri (Ron) Reisner of Cedar Rapids, Sue Buhman  of Kansas City, Mo., Kevin and Kendall Buhman of Marysville, Wash.; 9 grandchildren, Dustin (Erin) Hemesath, Lindie (Ben) Spargo, Jonathon Carr, Michael (Ashleigh) Buhman, Steven Buhman, Daniel Buhman, Mariah (Ricky) Daniels, Greg (LeighAnn) Reisner, and Eric (Mandy) Reisner; 11 great grandchildren, Abigail and Parker Hemesath, Austin Spargo, Jaeron Bendickson and Emberleigh Buhman, Alaina Daniels, Brock and Justice Reisner, and Cade, Camdyn, and Cashtin Reisner; his brother Harold Buhman and many nieces and nephews.
Darwin was preceded in death by parents, an infant son Rodney Buhman, and sister-in-law Donna Buhman.