Jack Bertelle Buser II

Jack Bertelle Buser II was born on Nov 4, 1949 to Jack and Harriett Buser and was raised in South Sioux City, NE. He was united in marriage on Aug 8, 1970 to his college sweetheart Susan Hirschman. After earning his Bachelor of Science in Education from WSC in Wayne, NE in 1971, Jack went on to earn his Master of Arts from USD in Vermillion, SD. He taught high school biology and coached wrestling and football for six years before switching careers and spending 24 years with 3M Pharmaceuticals working in sales/marketing in Nebraska, Kansas, and Minnesota.

Given early retirement at age 54, Jack and Susan moved to Webster City, IA where they renovated a 100-year-old building and fulfilled a dream of creating a community gathering place and garden they called Mornin' Glory Coffee Shoppe. Jack also worked as an adjunct professor at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, IA. After fully retiring, Jack and Susan spent their remaining years together in a condo in Rosemount, MN nearer to their children.

Jack had a long fascination with birdwatching. He and Susan would sit at the pond on the island in front of their condo trying to spot redpolls, chickadees, nuthatches, goldfinches, and cardinals, among other birds. He also loved playing cribbage, drinking strong coffee, telling tall tales, watching Big Red football and John Wayne westerns, reading and re-reading his favorite author Louis L'Amour, but most especially delighted in his role as jokester extraordinaire to his kids and grandkids. If Jack ever tricked you into "looking at the circle," you should know you were loved!

On Jan 27, 2026, Jack passed away peacefully at home under hospice care with his family by his side after an extended illness. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Harriett Buser, and brothers Fred Curtis and Sonny Curtis. He is survived by Susan, his wife of over 55 years, and their three children Wendy Buser, Amy (Greg) Smidt, and Bryan (Kelly) Buser; as well as five grandchildren (Emma, Owen, and Tyler Smidt, Hazel and Sasha Buser), brothers Ned (Jeanne) Buser and Kerrey (Kim) Buser, sister-in-law Karen (Fred) Curtis, Aunt Pat (Sam) Conner, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A service will be held on Friday, February 6, 2026 with the visitation from 10:00-11:00am and the Mass from 11:00am-12:00pm at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 13900 Biscayne Ave. W, Rosemount, MN, 55068.

The family asks that Memorial Contributions be made to the American Ornithological Society, the American Heart Association, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Cremation Society of Minnesota.