Jean (Martschink) Buyer
Jean (Martschink) Buyer, 82, of Monticello, passed away at 7:10 a.m., Sunday, July 26, at the White Oak Health Campus of Monticello, surrounded by her family.
She was born on Saturday, Nov. 19, 1932, in Charleston, South Carolina, to the late Gustav Charles and Karen Elizabeth (Larisey) Martschink.
On Dec. 27, 1950, at the St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Charleston, South Carolina, she married John Joseph Buyer. He survives.
Jean dedicated 50 years to the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a member of the Thornton Williams American Legion Post #81 of Monticello.
Jean was a partner of La Boutique Des Huit Chapeaux et Quarante (8 & 40) Femmes Salon 135 and the American War Mothers.
In 1991-1992, she was the American Legion Auxiliary, Second District President and in 1997-1998 the Department (State) President of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Jean served on the American Legion Auxiliary National Legislative Council.
In July of 1998, Indiana Governor James O’Bannon presented Jean with Indiana’s prestigious award, The Sagamore of the Wabash, for the 43 years of volunteerism in the support of Indiana military personnel and their families.
She was a Girl Scout Leader and Sunday school teacher.
Jean enjoyed playing Bridge, gardening, crafts, sewing, politics and people being the people person she was.
Jean also enjoyed fishing on the Tippecanoe River and collecting cookbooks.
Her philosophy was “strangers are friends I have not met yet.”
Surviving are husband John Joseph Buyer Sr., D.D.S. of Monticello; daughters: Karen Buyer Burkhardt of Kokomo, and Diane [Timothy C. Yale] Buyer D.D.S. of Indianapolis; sons: John J. [Christine L.] Buyer, Jr. D.D.S., MPH, MS, (Col. USA D.C. ret.) of Blacksburg, Virginia, and former Congressman Steve [Joni L.] Buyer (Col. USAR ret.) of Carmel; grandchildren: Colleen Buyer, Ryan [Ashlyn] Buyer, Joseph [Molly] Buyer, Jeremy [Lauren] Buyer and Matthew Buyer; three great-grandchildren; sister Barbara (Martschink) [Jack S.] Mobley of Charlotte, North Carolina; and brother Gustav C. [Linda] Martschink Jr. of Huntersville, North Carolina.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents Gustav Charles and Karen Elizabeth (Larisey) Martschink Sr; and son-in-law Toby Burkhardt.
Members of the American Legion Auxiliary and the 8 & 40 held their farewell service along with Pastor Gary Roberts, of the Grace Community Baptist Church of Monticello, at 5:30 p.m., Friday, July 31, at the Miller – Roscka Funeral Home of Monticello. Members and friends visited after the farewell service, Friday, July 31, at the Miller – Roscka Funeral Home until 8 p.m. Burial was private for the family at the Roseland Cemetery in Francesville.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Indiana Veterans Home, 3851 N. River Rd., West Lafayette, IN, 47906, Attn: Jim Clouse, MacArthur Building Renovation/Dining Halls in Memory of Jean Buyer, PDP American Legion Auxiliary.