The Reverend David Gene Buescher

The Reverend David Gene Buescher, 67, of Jefferson City, retired priest of Diocese of Jefferson City, died peacefully Sunday, February 3, 2013. Father David G. Buescher was born on January 6, 1946, in Washington, Missouri, the son of the late Alfred J. Buescher, Sr. and Zita (Voelkerding) Buescher. Father Buescher was preceded in death by a sister, Carol Buescher and a brother, Alfred J. Buescher, Jr. He is survived by a brother, Romuald L. Buescher; a sister, Sister Janet Buescher; and a sister-in-law, Susan Buescher. He received his primary education at St. Francis Borgia Elementary School in Washington, Missouri, from 1951 to 1959. Seminary studies were at St. Joseph Seminary, Westmont, Illinois, from 1959 to 1963; Cardinal Glennon College in St. Louis from 1963-1967; The Catholic University of American in Washington, D.C., from 1967-1971. Most Reverend Michael F. McAuliffe, Bishop of Jefferson City, ordained him to the Holy Priesthood on May 22, 1971, at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Washington, Missouri. Father Buescher was appointed Temporary Associate of St. Martin Parish in St. Martins, Missouri, from July 10-August 8, 1971. He was on faculty at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Hannibal from August 24, 1971-July 15, 1977. During this time, Father Buescher further studied at Quincy College in Quincy, Illinois, and Saint Louis University in St. Louis and was appointed part-time Associate Pastor of Hannibal Catholic Parish on August 7, 1973. He was appointed Pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Rich Fountain and the Diocesan Youth Director from July 15, 1977 to 1979. In 1979, Father Buescher was away on study at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and served as Campus Chaplain there until 1982. While he was in Washington, D.C., he spent a year in community with the Paulist Fathers. On June 29, 1982, he was appointed Associate Director of the Office of Spiritual Renewal of the Laity and to the faculty of the Permanent Diaconate Office until 1988. He was appointed Temporary Administrator of St. Brendan Church in Mexico on August 18, 1986. Father Buescher was then appointed Pastor of St. Anthony Church in Camdenton, St. Bernadette Church in Hermitage and Our Lady of the Snows Church in Climax Springs from July 17, 1988, to April 16, 1990. From April 17, 1990, to September 10, 1994, he was assigned as Pastor of the Church of Our Saviour, the English-speaking international Roman Catholic parish of The Hague in the Netherlands. He then returned to the Diocese of Jefferson City and was appointed Director of the Newman Center at the University of Missouri-Rolla, and Associate Pastor of St. Patrick Church in Rolla on September 3, 1994. Father Buescher also returned to the faculty of the Permanent Diaconate Office and continued until his death. Father Buescher was appointed Temporary Administrator of Holy Cross Church in Cuba, St. Francis Caracciolo Church in Bourbon and St. Michael Church in Steelville on March 1, 1996. He was appointed Director of the Lincoln University Newman Center and Catholic Chaplain at Capital Region Medical Center in Jefferson City on May 15, 1997, until August 7, 1999. He was appointed Temporary Administrator of St. Brendan Church, Mexico from August 7, 1999, to June 3, 2000. He served as a Chaplain of the House of Representatives from January to May 2000, and was available for weekend supply help. Father Buescher was appointed Director of the Office of Spiritual Renewal of the Laity on July 1, 2000, to July 1, 2004. He also worked as a Volunteer In Corrections at the Algoa Correctional Center in Jefferson City. He was appointed Senior Priest in Service at the Cathedral of St. Joseph on June 30, 2001, until he retired on July 1, 2004, due to health reasons. Father Buescher celebrated his 25th Anniversary of Priestly Ordination on June 16, 1996, at St. Patrick Church in Rolla, Missouri. He celebrated his 40th Anniversary at St. Anthony Church in Camdenton on June 26, 2011. Visitation will be at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Jefferson City, on Thursday, February 7, 2013, from 5-8 p.m., with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Another viewing will be held on Friday, February 8, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph, beginning at 9:30 a.m. prior to the Funeral Mass at 11 am with the Most Rev. John R. Gaydos presiding. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 1014 Madison Ave., Washington, Missouri at 11 a.m. on Saturday, February 9, 2013, with Father Daniel I.J. Lueckenotte presiding. Burial will immediately follow at St. Francis Borgia Cemetery in Washington, Missouri in the Buescher Family Plot, where he will be buried next to his mother. Memorials are suggested to the Mission Office of the Diocese of Jefferson City, P.O. Box 104900, Attn. Mission Office, Jefferson City, Mo 65110. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Those wishing to email condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.