Loren E. Buser

1944 - 2025

Loren E. Buser

August 26, 1944 - December 18, 2025

Loren E. Buser, 81, of Cedar Falls, died Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Western Home Communities.

Loren was born August 26, 1944, son of Charles and Ruth Walker Buser. He was raised on the family farm in Conesville, Iowa where he learned what a hard day of work was. He married Beverly "Bev" Thompson and later divorced.

Loren graduated from Columbus Junction High School with the Class of 1962.He earned 13 letters in football, track, baseball and basketball.

He graduated from State College of Iowa, now UNI, in 1966, and played football from 1963-1965 making a name for himself on defense as a linebacker.

He went on to be drafted by the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, playing two seasons there. He started every game at linebacker until becoming injured midway through his second year.

Besides his athletic accomplishments, Loren was instrumental, along with then athletic director and football coach Stan Sheriff, in setting up the UNI Athletic Club, now named the Panther Scholarship Club, and has been active in the organization ever since, including serving as president three times. He was elected into the University of Northern Iowa Athletic Hall of Fame twice, the first time as an individual, and the second time with his teammates from the 1964 Pecan Bowl football team.

Loren was an avid outdoorsman that loved hunting and fishing at any opportunity that was available. In his spare time, when not outdoors, he owned and operated Loren Buser Insurance Agency on College Street in Cedar Falls for 45 years until his retirement. He founded and owned the Panther Lounge in Cedar Falls and also was one of the founders of STEBSs Amusement on the Hill (the B in STEBs is for Buser). He also became a land developer in South Dakota. He wanted a home on a good fishing lake and couldn't find what he wanted so he bought a tract of land on Waubay Lake, put in roads, utilities, subdivided and sold the lots.

Loren's legacy will live on through his daughter, Lori Youngblut, his son Sam (Laura) Buser; his four grandchildren, Tadley Youngblut, Zoey Youngblut, Sam Buser Jr., and Alex Buser. He is survived by three brothers, Lamoyne G. (Janice) Buser, Raymond A. (Sally) Buser, and Dr. Boyd R. (Pamela) Buser; three sisters, Beverly R. (Steve) Nielsen, Sandra J. Schatzberg, and Susan J. (Rob) Williams.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son-in-law, David Youngblut, and his sister Charlene Fulton.

A Time of Celebrating Loren's Life will be held at the Diamond Event Center, Western Home Communities, 5307 Caraway Lane, Cedar Falls on Tuesday, Dec. 23rd from 4 until 7 p.m.

Memorials may be directed to UNI Panther Scholarship Fund or to Pheasants Forever.

Online Condolences may be left at www.hagartywaychoffgrarup.com. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway is in charge of arrangements.