The Boughers have once again been asked to deal with the loss of a family member. On Wednesday, November 15th, my oldest brother, Bud passed away, at age 70.
Harry Kenneth Bougher Jr. Oct. 6 1936 – Nov. 15, 2006
We didn’t expect this to happen. (Dad is 92, doing pretty well at a nursing home in Urbandale, Iowa.) We thought that we had Bud for at least 20 more years. We can only rest in the fact that God does all things well.
We Celebrated Bud’s Homecoming in real Iowa Style
We started the funeral with the Iowa Marching Band playing. First it was the drum corps and then the whole band played the Iowa Fight song. This was no regular funeral – the family was all dressed in black …. Black & Gold, Iowa Hawkeye colors! We all marched in behind the casket, little Graham leading the way. Bud would have been proud.
Iowa Hawkeye’s Season Tickets
For the first time ever, Bud & Steve bought season tickets to watch Iowa play football. Bud & Steve took 2 kids every Saturday. 4 Boughers in the same car for a 2 hour trip plus 4 hours at a game. The kids got to go with their Papo (pronounced: Pop – O) and hear him laugh and holler for hours! “AAAAA!” they would holler. (They sat in the “A” section, the crowd was expected to spell out “I-O-W-A”during the game. My 2 brothers would start the “AAAA” at anytime they deemed necessary.)Bud’s last game was the Saturday before he died – Iowa’s last home game of the season. God had a plan! (We all wish the Hawks had played better!)
The Fun - eral
For over 2 hours the people at the funeral heard stories of the love and laughter Bud brought into our lives. Stories of Christmases past, where reindeer hooves were heard on the roof and sleigh bells rang out side the boy’s window – all to help encourage the Santa story. Bud & Steve could have written scenes for Mission Impossible – no prank was too difficult, it had to be done, and it had to be done right. I have no doubt that their shenanigans were developed by observing our Dad!
12 Grand Kids!
Funeral attendees heard the Eternal Hope from everyone of Bud’s 12 grandkids, that one day soon, we’ll have another Bougher Family Celebration, … next time in Heaven. Way to go Nephews & Nieces – Christ in You is the hope of Glory!
Mom always sang at Weddings & Funerals
Mom sang at Bud’s funeral via video tape. (Mom passed away last Christmas.) Somebody found a video of Mom singing “Home Sick for Heaven.” That song/video emptied many boxes of Kleenex. Thanks First A/G for the tape!
Nicknames
We told about Bud’s use of nicknames. He had one for everybody:
Tricky Dickey, Wee Willie, Bo Weave, Anna Banana, Aunt Weiners, Legs, Turkey Lurkey, Hose Nose and Scooby Doo …just to name a few. Hang around the Bougher Boys long enough and you’ll get one!
World Class Belching!
No, we didn’t talk about his unusual habit of belching louder than humanly possible. (It was church after all.) Thanks to many bottles of Pepsi, Bud developed this gift/? to the amusement of some and to the dismay of our mother. I once was with Bud on a trip to the mall. Upon exiting Sears, you enter the main section of the mall – a very echo-ie section of the mall. It was there, that he decided to test just how loud and long he could belch. Then after finishing, a little lady came around from behind a planter, looking at us in disbelief and Bud pointed to me, as if I was the perpetrator of such a loud uncouth sound! Lady, if you’re reading this, it really wasn’t me!
After displaying his gift, Mom would always say, “Bud, I’m waiting!”
That was Mom’s way of trying to teach Bud some manners. Bud was supposed to say, “Excuse me.” And somehow that was supposed to erase that obnoxious sound from our memory. (You can tell it didn’t work.)
Big Brother #1
To a 4 year old kid, there was nothing like hearing the sound of your big brother’s old Ford coming down the driveway. There was a hug at the door and a Peter Paul Mound in his pocket. So much to remember. Catching baseballs, footballs, Whiffle balls, and dodging snow balls. Learning to ride a bike without training wheels! Who needed training wheels? I had a brother on each side of my bike. Learning so much … sometimes learning what NOT to do. (That is one of the advantages of being the youngest.)
Anything that Bud passed down was seen as gold. ‘Cause if Bud wore it or used it …. it was just great. Bud was 16 the day after I was born, Steve was 9, so I didn’t need Bat Man & Robin, I had 2 Big Brothers!
He may not have known just how much influence he would have on his 2 younger brothers. We had flat tops … just like Bud. We keep our cars clean and waxed … just like Bud. We still spit shine our dress shoes, just like Bud!
Bud left a lasting legacy of Love, Laughter & Life. Live life full blast, Love with all your heart, and squeeze some heads along the way!
Bud was our Columbus, … with Steve they were Lewis & Clark. There was no way I was going to fail. Bud believed and taught us all, “I did it … YOU Can Do It” … and so we did!
Can you Belch in Heaven?
If belching is possible in Heaven, there are some lessons going on.
I think that may have been Bud’s signal at the pearly gates …
Beeeee yaaaaaaah ooooahhhh uuuuuuuuhhh aaaahhhhh uuuuuup!
Then he heard, “Bud, I’m waiting!”
