Robert W. "Buz" Sisk

1937 - 2025

Sweet - Robert Wayne "Buz" Sisk, loving father and grandfather, passed away on July 18t, 2025 at home in Sweet, ID. Buz was born in Peoria, Illinois, on September 27, 1937, to Wayne and Anna Sisk.

After graduating from East Peoria High School in 1955, Buz enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he was trained as an Aviation Machinist Mate. He served with anti-submarine squadron VS-37 as a plane captain on a Grumman S2F aircraft. The squadron was deployed to the Pacific 7th Fleet aboard the aircraft carrier USS Philippine Sea.

After completing his service with the Navy, Buz entered the construction trades. He served an apprenticeship as an ironworker while working on the Titan missile silos in the Tucson, Arizona, area. As a journeyman ironworker, he helped construct the Vehicle Assembly Building at Cape Canaveral, working as a structural ironworker connector.

In 1965, Buz was accepted into the U.S. Army's Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Flight Program. Upon graduation from flight school, he was assigned to C Company, 229th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Air Cavalry Division, Republic of South Vietnam. After a year with C Company and accumulating 1,059 combat flying hours, Buz spent another year in Southeast Asia flying out of Korat, Thailand, where he supported Special Forces operating in Laos and Thailand. His last duty assignment before leaving the Army was as a test pilot for various new weapon systems mounted on helicopters. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star and 23 air medals.

Buz entered the civilian flying profession in 1969 as a helicopter pilot in Alaska, working on the North Slope oil fields, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, aerial firefighting, and other flying-related jobs.

In 1973, Buz married Kathy Fitzmorris. With this marriage came two stepsons. In 1975, their son Bobby was born. They later divorced.

Over the following years, Buz worked as a contract pilot involved in helicopter logging, firefighting, filming movies, and search and rescue.

He took time off from flying when he bought and operated a western bar, The Big Steer, in Patagonia, Arizona. There was also a stint in law enforcement. At age 47, Buz graduated from the Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy and served as a deputy sheriff for the Pima County Sheriff's Department. He also served as a deputy marshal.

In 1991, Buz met his true partner in life, Rodna Landis. They were married in 2000 and lived together on their horse ranch in Sweet until her death in 2023.

After over 14,000 hours of flying, Buz retired from aviation in 2000. His ratings include: Commercial Pilot for Rotary Wing, Airplanes (single-engine and multi-engine), instrument ratings for both, and type ratings for the Sikorsky S-61 and Learjet.

Buz was a very proud published author, writing his first book in 1989; Wings for the Valiant and Rampage by Firestorm, in 2024. Whenever Buz met someone new, they always left with an autographed book.

Buz is survived by his son, Bobby (Leah); grandsons, Colton and Caden, all of Sweet; his brother, Sam Sisk and sister, Shirley Staker, both of Illinois.

The family would like to thank Joe and Rick from Horizon Hospice for the wonderful care they provided for Dad.

There will be a Celebration of Life at Triangle Restaurant in Sweet, ID, on August 16th at 4:00 PM.

Arrangements are in the care of the Potter Funeral Chapel.