Christine Buschman

CHRISTINE BUSCHMAN Born January 29, 1931 - died January 9, 2007 Christine was born in St. Louis, Missouri January 29, 1931. She spent her childhood years in Vero Beach, Florida and her growing up years in Cairo, Illinois. She married, had three children, divorced, remarried, and had two additional children. She lived; she died. But those are just statistics. Christine was much more than that. She would want you to first know that she is a ''born again'' Christian who confessed that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ who died that we might have forgiveness of our sins. She believes in her heart that God raised His only begotten Son from the dead; and, because of that hope, Christine will celebrate her next birthday in the presence of the Lord. She would want you to also have this hope. Christine, of course, was wife and mother, but Christine was also Christine ... ghastly blunt at times ... outrageously funny, in a naive sort of way, at others. She was an attrractive lady who allowed me to chase her until she caught me. She was a singer of note with a professional quality soprano voice who sang at many civic functions and with her church ensembles and choirs ... always to the glory of God. Christine was a professional piano teacher with as many as 50 concurrent students. She taught with love and concern for her students and always with a Christian spirit. Many of those relationships remain whole today, and I know that many would express with love and admiration that Christine was their ''Teacher.'' She had a heart for missions, particulary those that impacted the lives of children. I am confident that this stems from Christine being an only child and having grown up without a stable father figure in her life. She was so proud to be one of the original supporters of the ''fresh egg'' program at the orphanage in Haiti sponsored by the Charles Chatman Evangelistic Association. She loved the Missouri Baptist Children's home, and was elated the day her auction bidding card came in the mail and it was a ''number 1,'' i.e., the bidder at the annual Strawberry Festival with the most longevity. She loved the bidding, and everyone learned to step aside when Christine made up her mind which quilt she wanted to buy. It was her way of providing the money the home needed and giving satisfaction to the quilt makers. I do believe our home could well supply the U.S. Army with quilts. Now her husband (Larry Buschman), her sons (Robert Shelton, Gregory Buschman, and Jason Buschman), her daughters (Cynthia Cardwell and Suellen Kirwan), her sons-in-law (Curt Cardwell and Bill Kirwan), and her daughters-in-law (Barbara Shelton, Debbie Buschman, and Brenda Buschman) will miss her dearly and must say goodbye for a little while. Make no dispute; our family is what it is by Christine's determination that we be a family. Her 13 grandchildren and her 2 great grandchildren will always affectionately remember her as ''Maw-Maw.'' Goodbye dear one!