John J. Buyer, D.D.S.
John J. Buyer, D.D.S., left this life better than he found it, on June 27, in Indianapolis at Forum at the Crossing surrounded by his family.
He was born in Francesville, to Dr. CC and Jennie (Colbo) Buyer on Feb. 24, 1928. John graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1946 and was Midwest Prep Conference Football All-Star Team. He was a 1950 graduate of The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, where he was Band Company Commander, member of the Junior Sword Drill and Bulldog Orchestra Conductor. He helped found The Buyer Family Top Leadership Scholarship which helps and rewards cadet leaders at The Citadel.
John married Jean Martschink at St. Matthews Lutheran Church, Dec. 27, 1950, in Charleston. He served in the Army during the Korean conflict then returned to school graduating in 1957 from Indiana University School of Dentistry. He practiced dentistry for 50 years in Francesville, retiring in 2008. He was a life member of the American Dental Association, the Indiana Dental Association and the West Central Dental Society.
John proudly served as Salem Township Trustee and on the Pulaski County School Board during school reorganization in Indiana. He gave back to his hometown in many projects. He was president of the first Francesville Fall Festival, which celebrated building the fire station without government money. As president of the Lions Club, all Francesville houses were assigned numbers. He built tennis courts in the park and with his wife, Jean, plotted the new addition to the Roseland Cemetery. They also founded a Junior Achievement Company which taught business to the youth of Francesville. John taught Sunday school, sponsored MYF and sang in the choir at the United Methodist Church.
A man of integrity and proud American, John dedicated his life to improving the lives of veterans and the next generation. He served as commander of the American Legion 2nd District in 1996-97 and served 10 years on the American Legion National Legislative Council. He was chaplain of the American Legion Post #228. As Chef de Gare of 40&8 Voiture 211, he promoted and awarded nursing scholarships. John was a 32 degree mason of Winamac Lodge #25 and member of the Orak Shrine. John was an ardent Tippecanoe River fisherman. He loved trees and nature and famously planted thousands of trees locally and worldwide. He is responsible for sending tulip poplar trees to honor every Indiana soldier who died in action and wounded to Soule, South Korea, when commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Korean conflict ceasefire. He is also responsible for cherry and apple orchards being planted on the grounds of orphanages in Ukraine.
Survivors include children: Karen Buyer (Burkhardt) DiNardo, B.S., M.S. [Tom] of Kokomo, Diane Buyer, D.D.S. [Timothy Yale] of Indianapolis, John J Buyer, Jr, D.D.S., M.P.H., M.S. (Col. USA DC ret.) [Christine] of Blacksburg, Virginia, and Congressman Steve Buyer (Col. USAR ret.) [Joni] of Carmel; grandchildren: Colleen Buyer, Ryan [Ashlyn] Buyer, Joseph [Molly] Buyer, Jeremy [Lauren] Buyer and Matthew Buyer; great-grandchildren: Kaden, Braxton, Carly, Jameson and Harper; and all the smallmouth bass he released in the Tippy.
His wife Jean (Martschink) Buyer predeceased him in 2015, as well as his son-in-law Toby Burkhardt.
Services were at 11 a.m., on Saturday, July 1, with a Doc’s Gone Fishing Celebration Reception following at Miller-Roscka Funeral Home of Monticello. Full military rites were conducted at Roseland Cemetery, Francesville, at 2 p.m.
Please plant a favorite tree of Doc’s (cherry, tulip, apple, maple or oak). For memorials please consider The John and Jean Buyer MacArthur Hall Project, IN Veterans Home c/o Tom Smith Community Services Director, 3851 N. River Road, West Lafayette, IN 47906 or The Citadel Foundation, The Buyer Family Top Leadership Scholarship, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409.
(Pulaski County Journal — July 5, 2017)