Donald Arthur Busarow

News Death Notice

BUSAROW, Donald Arthur 77, lost his battle with leukemia on Monday, October 24, 2011, surrounded by his loving family, in the MD Anderson Cancer Research Center in Houston, TX. Don was born April 10, 1934 in Racine, WI, to Nickolai and Dorothy (Borgardt) Busarow. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Peggy (Johnson), and six children, Kevin of Beavercreek, OH; Kelly (Dennis) O'Neill of Payson AZ; Kendall (Donna) of Royce City, TX; Kerry (Jeffrey) Cogen of Flemington, NJ; Kate of Lompoc, CA; Kristin (John) Andrews of Sacramento, CA; 14 grandchildren and one great grandson. He is also survived by his brother Eugene of Green Bay, WI, his sister Judy (Bruce) Kosmatka of Utica, MI, as well as two sisters-in-law, Helen of Collinsville, IL, and Carol of Sturgeon Bay, WI, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Rev. Gilbert of Collinsville, IL and Ronald of Sturgeon Bay, WI, a daughter-in-law, Linda, of Beavercreek, OH, and a sister- in-law, Judy, of Green Bay, WI. Don received a Bachelor's degree from Concordia University, River Forest, IL, a Master's degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Ph.D. from Michigan State University. He served churches in Detroit, Cleveland and Milwaukee. He was a professor at Concordia College - Milwaukee, WI, before coming to Wittenberg University in 1975. At Wittenberg, he served as professor of music, teaching courses in music theory, composition, church music and organ. He served as University organist and directed the Wittenberg Choir for 28 years. He traveled the country giving organ recitals, hymn festivals, and choral and organ workshops. Don was a member of St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church in Huber Heights, OH, and served as organist and choir director there for 24 years. He was also the organist at the First Presbyterian Church of South Charleston, OH, for the past 10 years. During his career, Don received many honors for his compositions. His published works are included in the catalogs of seven publishing houses. He was involved in organ consultation and design in many cities including Detroit, Chicago, and most recently in Columbus, where he designed the organ at Trinity Lutheran Seminary. In 1996, Don received an honorary Doctor of Letters from his alma mater, Concordia University, IL, for his achievements in music composition and choral conducting. On May 22, 2011, the Columbus Association of Lutheran Church Musicians Cantor Connection celebrated Don's legacy with a hymn festival at Peace Lutheran Church in Dublin, OH, featuring his music with a festival choir of singers from 16 area church choirs under the direction of his grandson, Jonathan. In "Celebrating the Musical Heritage of the Lutheran Church" published by Thrivent, Don is named as one of the ten Lutheran composers representing the 20th century. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 13th in Weaver Chapel at Wittenberg University at 3:00 p.m. Pre-service music begins at 2:30. Memorials may be made to The Donald Busarow Memorial Fund at Weaver Chapel to support church music endeavors, Wittenberg University, Springfield, OH, 45501, or to St. Matthew Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5566 Chambersburg Road, Huber Heights, OH, 45424. Burcham Jennings Funeral Home, Fairborn, OH