Obituary for James Jay Buehner
James “Jim” Jay Buehner - beloved teacher, father, grandfather, and friend - died peacefully in his sleep with family by his side on September 29, 2023, in Oshkosh, WI, after a 21-month battle with brain cancer.
Jim was born on June 2, 1947, in Oshkosh to George Carl and Jean Marie (Mathwig) Buehner. A proud “South Sider,” Jim spoke fondly of his formative years, wherein he learned the value of friendship from his neighbors on 12th Street.
Jim graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1965 and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education in 1970 and a Master of Science in Educational Guidance in 1973.
During his time at UW-O, Jim was a proud member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, an organization to which he remained faithful for more than five decades. “Those are for Jim,” could be overheard by current fraternity brothers at Molly’s Monday wing night.
Also while in college, Jim followed a lead on a construction job in Honolulu, a path which would lead to friendships in Hawaii spanning generations. He traveled back to Hawaii almost every year thereafter to visit friends and cycle around Oahu.
Other notable bicycle trips include the Canadian Rockies, Canada to Mexico, the “Loneliest Road in America,” New Orleans to Oshkosh, Yukon Territory and many, many others. Decades long bike friends have kindly requested a tailwind for JimBob.
He was an avid traveler, visiting 49 states and several continents including Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He also took extreme pride in caring for his fleet of collector vehicles, especially his 1955 Buick Special and his 1963 Chevy Impala, both of which he inherited from his father.
Jim began his career with the Oshkosh Area School District in the fall of 1970 teaching science at Perry Tipler, and spent the next three decades teaching high school psychology and biology, first at Oshkosh North and then at Oshkosh West. In addition to teaching, Jim coached track, wrestling, and volleyball, and worked as a referee.
Teachers, former students, and student athletes in and around Oshkosh today remember their time with Mr. Buehner so fondly that he inspired some of them to teach and/or coach, with one student athlete notably proclaiming Jim had created a track “dynasty.”
Throughout his time dealing with cancer, he not only followed medical advice to a tee, he often had fun going to appointments with his daughter and son. Those who knew Jim well knew that he made people feel good about themselves. Up until the very end, he cared for himself and others and let it show.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, George and Jean Buehner. He is survived by his daughter Jamie Lynn (Jacob) Resneck, his son Ted Michael (Christina) Buehner, and his four grandchildren: Imogen and Ansel Resneck and Stevie and Leo Buehner.
Visitation for Jim will be held at Living Water Lutheran Church in Oshkosh, WI, on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 10:00 am, with a memorial service to follow at 11:00.
The family would like to thank the staff at Vince Lombardi Cancer Care Center and Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh, WI; the staff at Aurora St. Luke’s in Milwaukee, WI, especially Dr. Asad Khan; the entire staff of Aspire Senior Campus in Oshkosh; and AseraCare Hospice, especially Tammy Fox; for the high level of care shown to Jim, who will be missed far more than we have yet been able to fully comprehend.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ski for Light at sfl.org or Oshkosh North High School Attn: Athletic Director in Jim’s memory.
Jim was born on June 2, 1947, in Oshkosh to George Carl and Jean Marie (Mathwig) Buehner. A proud “South Sider,” Jim spoke fondly of his formative years, wherein he learned the value of friendship from his neighbors on 12th Street.
Jim graduated from Oshkosh High School in 1965 and enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education in 1970 and a Master of Science in Educational Guidance in 1973.
During his time at UW-O, Jim was a proud member of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity, an organization to which he remained faithful for more than five decades. “Those are for Jim,” could be overheard by current fraternity brothers at Molly’s Monday wing night.
Also while in college, Jim followed a lead on a construction job in Honolulu, a path which would lead to friendships in Hawaii spanning generations. He traveled back to Hawaii almost every year thereafter to visit friends and cycle around Oahu.
Other notable bicycle trips include the Canadian Rockies, Canada to Mexico, the “Loneliest Road in America,” New Orleans to Oshkosh, Yukon Territory and many, many others. Decades long bike friends have kindly requested a tailwind for JimBob.
He was an avid traveler, visiting 49 states and several continents including Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He also took extreme pride in caring for his fleet of collector vehicles, especially his 1955 Buick Special and his 1963 Chevy Impala, both of which he inherited from his father.
Jim began his career with the Oshkosh Area School District in the fall of 1970 teaching science at Perry Tipler, and spent the next three decades teaching high school psychology and biology, first at Oshkosh North and then at Oshkosh West. In addition to teaching, Jim coached track, wrestling, and volleyball, and worked as a referee.
Teachers, former students, and student athletes in and around Oshkosh today remember their time with Mr. Buehner so fondly that he inspired some of them to teach and/or coach, with one student athlete notably proclaiming Jim had created a track “dynasty.”
Throughout his time dealing with cancer, he not only followed medical advice to a tee, he often had fun going to appointments with his daughter and son. Those who knew Jim well knew that he made people feel good about themselves. Up until the very end, he cared for himself and others and let it show.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, George and Jean Buehner. He is survived by his daughter Jamie Lynn (Jacob) Resneck, his son Ted Michael (Christina) Buehner, and his four grandchildren: Imogen and Ansel Resneck and Stevie and Leo Buehner.
Visitation for Jim will be held at Living Water Lutheran Church in Oshkosh, WI, on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 10:00 am, with a memorial service to follow at 11:00.
The family would like to thank the staff at Vince Lombardi Cancer Care Center and Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh, WI; the staff at Aurora St. Luke’s in Milwaukee, WI, especially Dr. Asad Khan; the entire staff of Aspire Senior Campus in Oshkosh; and AseraCare Hospice, especially Tammy Fox; for the high level of care shown to Jim, who will be missed far more than we have yet been able to fully comprehend.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ski for Light at sfl.org or Oshkosh North High School Attn: Athletic Director in Jim’s memory.