Marlan Ray Busboom

Marlan Ray Busboom, age 67, of Penfield, Illinois, passed away on August 2, 2025. 

Born on February 3, 1958, to Luella and the late Raymond Busboom, Marlan grew up in a family where hard work, sarcasm, and kindness ran deep. He graduated from Rantoul Township High School in 1976 and went on to Wyoming Tech to become a certified mechanic. His hands stayed greasy ever since. 

Throughout his life, Marlan held a variety of jobs, most recently at Plasticpak, but every fall he took off work for his real job—helping on the family farm. Nothing made him happier than being on the land. 

Marlan had a knack for helping people—usually with their vehicles, and always with his signature dry humor. If you asked for help, he was there, tools in hand and probably muttering about how it wasn’t in the budget. 

He was the proudest Papa to his grandchildren: Anton, McKenna, and Raven Cassell; Evan Ingalsbe and Kolbie Busboom; Landon and Rylee Brown. Marlan enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren with snacks and as they got older he was known to give a quick witted comeback or two. Though sports weren’t his thing, he made an exception for his grandchildren and was often found in the crowded bleachers cheering them on. 
Marlan leaves behind his wife, Dorothy; children Amanda Cassell, of Bloomington, Dustin (Tara) Busboom, of Rantoul, and Megan (Dale) Brown, of Harvard; his mother Luella; siblings Melinda Shafer (Bob Hendricks), Maury Busboom, and Melanie (Mark) Hamilton; and a crew of nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by his father Raymond, his grandparents, two sisters-in-law, brother-in-law, and a nephew who are surely greeting him with open arms—and maybe asking for help fixing something. 

Visitation will be held Saturday, August 9 from 8:30 to 10:15 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Flatville, with funeral services beginning at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Scott Smith and Greg Busboom will be officiating. Burial will follow at Kopmann Cemetery. Baier Family Funeral Services, Flatville is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to Kopmann Cemetery or the Vermilion County Animal Shelter. Condolences and memories can be shared with the family at www.baierfuneralservices.com.