Darrel Bushman

Darrel Bernard Bushman, 75, of Clermont died Thursday, November 26, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Center, Postville, following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, November 30 at St. Peter Catholic Church, Clermont. The Rev. Dale Rausch celebrated Mass. Burial was in the St. Peter Catholic Cemetery, Clermont.
Darrel was born April 4, 1934 in rural Festina to Raymond and Julitta (Kleve) Bushman. He attended the Festina School.
Darrel was united in marriage to Eunice Huinker August 10, 1954 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Ossian. Six children were born to this union. Darrel and Eunice first farmed with his parents until moving to the farm south of Castalia in the late 1950s.  In 1986 he retired from the farm and they moved to Clermont. He ran an excavating business, did welding and repairs, and developed Oak Ridge Heights Housing Addition until his health began to fail.
He was a member of Northeast Iowa Blacksmith Association and an active member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church. Darrel loved the town of Clermont and was very involved in the community. He enjoyed piloting his Piper Cherokee airplanes. He and Eunice loved to travel. They traveled to Europe and toured most of the 50 states. Darrel was a good and kind man and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Survivors include his wife, Eunice Bushman; his six children, Cindy (Mike) Gibbs of Waterville, Wendy (Kevin) Helgerson of Decorah, Scott Bushman of Clermont, Chuck (Marlys) Bushman of Castalia, DeeAnn (Wayne) McGlaughlin of Monona, and Karla (Dennis) Niemann of Yelm, WA; five siblings, Donna (Dale) Blumhagen of Bloomfield, Donald (Dorothy) Bushman of Calmar, Doris Lensing of Festina, Duane (Shirley) Bushman of Decorah, and Dean (Cindy) Bushman of Graham, WA; 27 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Darrel was preceded in death by his parents; two siblings in infancy; one sister, Dolorita Kuennen; two brothers-in-law, Robert Lensing and Richard Kuennen; and one great-grandson, Andrew Helgerson.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation of Clermont assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.graufuneralhomes.com.