Mark E Busch

Mark Edward Busch, 63, lost his courageous battle with cancer on September 9, 2013 surrounded by his family. He was a loving, kind, caring, and compassionate husband and father, a trusted friend and ethical to the core.

Mark was born in Indianapolis, spent his early childhood years in Ohio, and moved to Tempe in 1960. He attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Brophy College Prep, Tempe High School, and Arizona State University where he received a BS in Management.

As a member of ROTC at ASU, Mark was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the USAF. He was trained as a pilot at Williams and Luke Air Force Bases and then flew F-4s out of Bitburg AFB in Germany during the end of the Vietnam War. While there, he received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Ball State University. Returning from Germany, Mark was selected to join the elite Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base where he trained pilots from around the world in air-to-air combat. As he married and began a family, Mark transferred to USAF Reserves where he served as Operations Officer of the 37th MAPS and Commander of the 50th Aerial Port Squadron at March AFB, California. He also served as Assistant to the Director of Logistics at Tinker Air Force Base, as the FEMA USAF liaison to the Arizona National Guard, and finally as the Commander of Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia-Herzegovina. He retired as a Colonel from the USAF in November 2000.

Mark served as the CFO for school districts around the state and after retiring from public education in 2009, he worked part time for C2 Tactical, IPTACS and the Trophy Den and volunteered as a math tutor at Wood School. He loved 4-wheel driving, hunting and golf and was a loyal ASU fan.

Mark was preceded in death by his sons Todd and Erik, and parents Ed and Udell. He is survived by his wife Chris, the love of his life and best friend; sons Ryan and Troy; brothers John (Theresa) and Tim (Cora); parents-in-law Bill and Mary; sisters-in-law Barbara and Ann (Joe); brothers-in-law Bill (Kathy) and Patrick (Nancy); along with his many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces who he adored.

A funeral Mass will be held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Tempe, on Saturday, September 21, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, Mark requested that donations be made to: Wood Elementary School (727 W. Cornell Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283) where he found true joy in his retirement years as a volunteer math tutor or Hospice of the Valley (1510 E. Flower Street, Phx, AZ 85014). The Busch family is forever grateful to Cindy, Adam, Dr. Sally and Jennifer who carried Mark and his family through the devastating journey of cancer.

Arrangements entrusted to Carr-Tenney Mortuary