Bus Burgoyne

Leon Edward (Bus) Burgoyne, 91, of St. Joseph, died Sunday, January 27th, at Lakeland Regional Hospital. A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 P.M., Thursday, January 31, at the St. Joseph First United Methodist Church, 3003 Leco Ct., St. Joseph, MI. Rev. Wade Panse will preside. Memorials may be directed to Maude Preston Palenske Memorial Library in St. Joseph, MI. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Bus Burgoyne was born on December 21, 1916 to Burton Burgoyne and Lilian (Taylor) Burgoyne in Berrien Springs. He married Betty Brown of St. Joseph on March 28, 1942. Early in his life, Bus was drawn to the sport of basketball and the world of education. From 1932 – 1935 he excelled as a player on the Berrien Springs High School team. Bus also demonstrated his leadership skills through his involvement as a Boy Scout, earning the coveted rank of Eagle Scout. A graduate of Western Michigan University and holder of a Masters Degree from the University of Michigan, Bus began his career in the field of education as a teacher of math and basketball coach at various area schools and then St. Joseph High School. Among his early accomplishments is his role in leading the St. Joe Bears to the State Class B Championship in 1948. One of Bus’s delights was the annual Christmas reunion he hosted for the “boys” from his team. Bus was selected for membership in St. Joe High’s Athletic Hall of Fame. After leaving St. Joe High, Bus owned and operated the LaSalle Drugstore in downtown St. Joe with his wife, Betty. But education eventually called him back. First, as a Secondary Administrator in the Fairplain and Benton Harbor Public Schools for 8 years, then into higher education. He served as Assistant Director of Admissions and Scholarships of Michigan State University, then as Associate Director of Placement Services at Western Michigan, a post from which he retired in 1982. Not only was Bus devoted to literature and an avid reader, he also authored three novels for young adults: 2 basket ball stories “State Champs” and “Jack Davis, Forward” and one work of historical fiction, “Ensign Ronan: A Story of Fort Dearborn”. Bus was a life member of The Elks, having served the St. Joseph Lodge #541 for 58 years. He was a proud member of the U.S.S. Yorktown CV-10 Associates, having served on board as a Naval Officer in WWII. Bus was also an Associate Member of The Fraternal Order of Police, St. Joseph Lodge #96, and an honorary member of the South Carolina Sheriff’s Association. In addition, Bus enjoyed a membership at Berrien Hills Country Club. A lover of Lake Michigan and its sunsets, Bus enjoyed boating with friends and family, including summer cruises up the lake and into Canada. He was a member of the St. Joseph Yacht Club. When not boating, he had fun playing Bridge. And he loved his Schnauzers. Bus is survived by one daughter, Suzanne Burgoyne, Curators Teaching Professor of Theatre at The University of Missouri – Columbia, and by special friends, Merrilou and Nick Peters. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Betty.