Donald Stephen Buell

Donald S. Buell, 86, Leawood, Kansas, died peacefully on Thursday, November 7, 2013 at St. Joseph Medical Center in Kansas City, Missouri. Don was born October 14, 1927 to Frank Arthur Buell and Anna Eliza Parker Buell in Kansas City, Missouri. He was blessed with five brothers and sisters. After graduating from East High School in Kansas City, Don served in the United States Navy, where he was a Storekeeper Second Class. He graduated from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas in 1952 with a BA degree in business. At Baker, he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and served as president and comptroller. It was at Baker where he met the love of his life, Dorothy “Dot” Buell. Dot was honored as the “Sigma Phi Epsilon Sweetheart” during their senior year. Don and Dot married in July 1952 in Kansas City. They were married almost 47 years and had two devoted daughters, Nancy and Carolyn, who respected and loved their parents unconditionally.

While he was offered a position at the nationally known company Proctor & Gamble, he decided to charter his own course and joined his father and brother Ernest in business to start Buell Cabinet Company in Kansas City, Missouri and Topco Laminates in Ft. Scott, Kansas, both which did especially well in a four-state area. Don was “a numbers man,” had a remarkable business sense and a discerning ability to find and benefit from smart business investments.

Don enjoyed lifelong friendships with many people throughout his life. He was especially fond of friends in the Homesteaders Sunday School Class at Country Club Christian Church. He looked forward to his weekly outings of drinking coffee, eating lunch, sharing stories and golfing with “The Golf Group,” close friends for over 50 years! He spent many afternoons playing pool with “The Dirty ½ Dozen: Park Meadows Bad Billiards Boys.” Don and Dot stayed in touch with their Baker friends and met regularly in their younger years for potluck suppers and poker playing. The family loved to travel, spending a good deal of time in Colorado, Florida and at the Lake of the Ozarks. Destinations also included other United States locations and abroad. There were many memories made during trips, celebrations and get-togethers with both the extended Buell family and the Hunter family (Dot’s sister Catherine’s family).

Don had an infectious sense of humor, never missing an opportunity to share a joke or a humorous story. He never knew a stranger. Don was a man of integrity and honor. He was loyal, fair, kind, generous, a great problem solver, a trusted friend and someone greatly admired.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; and his siblings Hazel (Buell) Ploeger, Clarice (Buell) Hoffman, Ernest Buell, Earl Buell and John Buell and their families. Survivors include his loving daughters and sons-in-law Nancy (Buell) and John Gilman, Carolyn (Buell) and Russ Van Ness; his adoring grandchildren Sydney Gilman, Bryce Gilman, Seth Gilman, Alexis Van Ness and Sean Van Ness; many wonderful nieces and nephews, as well as loyal friends.

Don’s daughters are especially appreciative of the dedicated care provided to Don from Dr. Paul Diederich and staff, Kidney Associates, Dialysis Centers Incorporated (Carondelet), friends at Park Meadows and the numerous medical professionals who have been integral to his care.

Visitation will be at 10 am on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at Country Club Christian Church, 6101 Ward Parkway in Kansas City, Missouri. A funeral service will follow at 11 am, also at the church. Interment will be at Mt. Moriah Cemetery, 10507 Holmes Road in Kansas City, Missouri. The family requests any donations made in Don’s memory be sent to Office of Advancement, Baker University, PO Box 65, Baldwin, Kansas 66006.

“Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful, lest you let other people spend it for you.” Carl Sandburg