Marlene A. Buesching

MARLENE A. BUESCHING, 78, of Fort Wayne, peacefully departed this life surrounded by her family and friends on Tuesday, June 10, 2014. Born Sept. 7, 1935, Marlene was a native of Fort Wayne and a South Side High School graduate. She began employment at Fort Wayne National Bank in 1958 as a secretary in the Trust Division. In 1962 she took a leave of absence to give full-time attention to her three young children, but returned to the Trust Division in 1969. She was successively promoted to the positions of Trust Administrator in 1977, Assistant Trust Officer in 1980, Trust Officer in 1985, Vice President and Trust Officer in 1991, and, after the acquisition of Fort Wayne National Bank by National City Bank in 1998, to Vice President and Relationship Manager for the Northeast Indiana Charitable and Endowment Services division of National City Bank. During her employment, she completed numerous American Institute of Banking courses and attended many workshops, seminars and classes related to trust administration, foundations, charitable giving and taxes. Her professional affiliations included active membership in Financial Women International (NE Indiana Chapter), serving as Co-Chairperson of the Awards and Scholarships and the Hospitality Committees for State Conference, and Fort Wayne Estate Planning Council. Additionally, she served as a precinct committeewoman for St. Joseph Township, as an advisor to the Girl Scouts and as a Director of the Parks Day Camp activities. Her community memberships included the Chamber of Commerce, St. Francis College Guild, St. Joseph Medical Center Auxiliary, Fort Wayne Museum of Art and the Embassy Theatre Foundation. Marlene also served for many years on the Community Harvest Food Bank and Turnstone boards of trustees. In March 1992, she was recognized by the Fort Wayne YWCA at it's annual "Tribute to Women of Achievement"award dinner for employment commitment and excellence. She retired in May of 1999 after 41 years of service. In her retirement, she worked part time for the Fort Wayne Park Foundation, enjoyed traveling, spending time with friends and, most of all, with her grandchildren. For many years before and after retirement she was known in the greater Fort Wayne community of not-for-profit organizations and foundations as knowledgeable of its arts, culture and humanitarian needs and in being influential in securing operating and capital support to meet many of those needs. In recent years, Marlene served as a member of the distribution committees of the O'Rourke-Schof Family Foundation and the Madge Rothschild Foundation, which have made significant contributions in support of the operating and capital needs of numerous local organizations, including, Arts United, Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, Community Harvest Food Bank, Erin's House, the Fort Wayne Philharmonic, Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, the Fort Wayne Museum of Art, SCAN, Turnstone, Visiting Nurse, WBNI Public Radio, and many others. Surviving are her daughter, Lisa T. Lahrman; sons, Patrick (Melissa) Buesching and Dennis (Dixie) Buesching; grandchildren, Ryan (Amy) Lahrman, Brittany Lahrman, Johannah Buesching and Anthony Buesching; brothers, Ronald (Sharon) Alt, Gordon Alt and Vincent (Kathleen) Alt; and daughter-in-law, Joan Alt. She was preceded in death by her husband, Derward F. "Jake" Buesching; parents, Anthony J. and M. Juanita Alt, and her brother, Robert A. Alt. Mass of Christian Burial is 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 14, 2014 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, corner of Reed and Trier Roads, with visitation one hour prior before Mass; Visitiaton also from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 13, 2014 at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, 6131 St. Joe Rd. A Rosary service will be recited at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to St. Charles Catholic Church or School, or to Visiting Nurse, Fort Wayne.