Joel Buss

Joel Michael Buss May 27, 1949 – May 31, 2025 Joel Michael Buss, 76, of Pecatonica, IL, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Alden Debes Nursing Home, after a courageous year-long battle with cancer. True to his nature, he fought with quiet strength, good humor, and a deep love for his family-and maybe just a little stubbornness, too. Born on May 27, 1949, at Rockford Memorial Hospital to Helen (Ferdinand) Buss and Francis "Fritz" Buss, Joel grew up in Pecatonica, where he spent most of his life. He was a proud graduate of Pecatonica High School, class of 1967, where he made a name for himself as an all-conference football player and also excelled in basketball and baseball. Athletics were in his blood-and so were statistics, trivia, and the Chicago Cubs. After high school, Joel attended Arizona State University, majoring in business. His professional journey led him through successful careers in sales with Southern Imperial in the mid-80s and Tote Cart in the early 90s. But Joel was never one to stick to the script-in the mid-90s, he followed a new path into the restaurant industry, becoming Banquet and Bar Manager at Cliffbreakers when they first opened, working alongside his good friend, Jimmy Vitale. Whether selling products or managing a banquet hall, Joel had a natural gift with people-he made friends everywhere he went and was liked by just about everyone who met him. Joel was a die-hard sports fan with an encyclopedic knowledge of players, stats, nicknames, and alma maters. His son often told him he could've been rich if he went on a sports trivia game show. But Joel wasn't in it for the riches-he just genuinely loved the game. His loyalty to the Chicago Bears and Cubs never wavered, no matter how tough the season (and let's be honest, there were some tough ones). If he couldn't watch the game, he'd tune in on the radio-because missing it just wasn't an option. He was a devoted father and grandfather, coaching his son Michael's youth football and basketball teams and later being gifted one of his greatest joys-his cat Ava-for his 69th birthday by his two granddaughters, Jayden and Jordyn. Ava was more than a pet; she was family, and he made sure everyone knew it. Joel is survived by his loving son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Kayla Buss; his beloved granddaughters, Jayden and Jordyn Buss; his sister, Linda K (Buss) Deree; his favorite niece, Christina (Deree) Martin; and his dear friends, Becky and Wally, along with countless cousins and extended family members. He is also remembered fondly by his late partner, Carol Bartlett, whom he cared for deeply until her passing in 2018. He was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Francis "Fritz" Buss, and his sister, Janice (Buss) Due. The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the Mercy Health Hospice nurses who cared for Joel in his final days. Your kindness and compassion meant the world to him - and to us. Joel's final resting place will be at Twelve Mile Grove Cemetary alongside his mom and dad. He will be remembered for his sharp wit, kind heart, and incredible memory for sports stats. He was humble, loyal, and full of quiet wisdom-the kind of man who didn't need the spotlight to make a lasting impact. His presence will be missed, but his stories, laughter, and love will live on in all of us lucky enough to have known him.