Janis Buschman’s mom, dad, brother and sister lived in the country near Ulysses, Kansas. This is where she was born, at home, in the country, on a snowy day. Her father had to drive to Garden City, Kansas, nearly 60 miles away, to get to the doctor. When they lived in Kansas, Janis’ father worked as a farm hand for other farmers in the area. Her mother did housekeeping for other people. The family moved to Fresno, California when Janis was about 2 years old. When she was 4 or so, her parents began building a house. Lots of people do that, but what makes this experience so different is the family lived in an Army tent until it was finished. Janis said it was really cold in the winter. She took a bath in a round washtub and since she was the youngest, she got to go first. “I don’t know who went last.” she said. It was her brother’s job to milk the cow and one day he came in with a bucket of “chocolate milk”. Apparently, the cow had stepped in the bucket. Janis’ dad had several different jobs and then ended up at Southern Pacific Rail Road where he worked for many years.

When the children were young, family camping trips were a regular pastime. One trip took them to Yosemite National Park. They camped in the valley and hiked all over taking in the scenery. As the kids got older, they stopped using the tent to camp. Their dad would find a few trees that were close together, tie blankets up so they could change clothes and then they slept out under the stars on the mattresses they brought from home. Janis’ favorite memories are of the Yosemite trip and other camping experiences. She enjoyed seeing the waterfalls and the bears that were close to the campsite trying to get into the trash cans. She also loved her mom cooking out over a bonfire and a camp stove.

In 1966, after Janis got married, she and her husband moved to Kansas, eventually settling in Walton. Janis says it was a town of 250-275 people with a bank and a library. Through the years she served several positions on the library board. She also became a Certified Nurse’s Aide and Med Tech. Janis later went to LPN school, graduating in 1983. She worked at Presbyterian Manor for 11 years before moving to Joplin.

During those years in Kansas, Janis had 2 boys, Ned and Tim. They both attended Christian Academics through school, Ned, until 10th grade, and Tim, until graduation. When Janis decided to switch them to the Berean Academy, Ned wanted to attend Newton High School, where he went on to graduate. Tim went to the academy and it was such a positive experience, Janis said. All of the teachers focused on the positive aspects of his performance, which made such a big difference. When Ned graduated, he moved to Joplin to attend Ozark Christian College. He thoroughly enjoyed helping with the lighting sequences for the Living Christmas Tree. Even after he stopped attending there he still helped with the lighting. He came back to Kansas, but decided to move back to Joplin because he considered it home.

In 1994, after being divorced for several years, Janis and Tim moved to Joplin to be closer to Ned. Sadly, Ned passed away in 1999. Tim is employed at College Heights Christian Church where he is the custodian and Janis considers that her church home. She has attended there for many years and still goes when she can. Tim loves his job and the children love him, too. They always say, “hello” to him when they see him at Wal-Mart and different places in the community. They should know him, since he’s been there nearly 13 years.

Janis worked as an LPN at Spring River Christian Village for 3 years, 1994-1997, when she was diagnosed with cancer.

When Tim was asked what he remembers most about his mom growing up and what were some of his favorite memories of her, he said, “It would be the fact that she was so supportive of me. When I was in sports, even though I wasn’t very good, she always came to my track meets and events.”

A memorial visitation has been scheduled for Thursday, August 16, 2018 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Mason-Woodard Mortuary & Crematory.

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