Alan Bussing " Black Label Kid"

Alan Bussing was the kind of man who could tell you hundreds of stories from his adventures. He did a lot of living in his life, as a truck driver, country guy, husband, father, grandfather, great grand father and friend. Alan loved nothing more than telling his tales over a few of his favorite brews, and he was even nicknamed the Black Label Kid for his loyalty to the lager. And while he might have been a Black Label man, Alan always had a blue ribbon heart, a heart he shared with all who knew him. Alans story began on a hot summer day in 1936, in the little burg of Sullivan Township, Michigan, just outside Muskegons sandy shores. Those were times of hope in this country, which had endured so many difficult days during the Great Depression. On July 17, 1936, George and Violet (Thompson) Bussing had their own reasons for hope, with the birth of a baby boy, a son they named Alan. Alan was the baby of a family of five children, he joined older siblings Ila, Bruce, Carol and Molly in the familys home. Alan attended Cloverville Schools as a boy, but he found time for his share of mischief, too. Eventually he began attending Muskegon Heights High School, riding his bike along the railroad tracks with his buddies each day. Of course, Alan and his friends decided to skip their share of school, too. Alan decided to quit school after the 10th grade, opting to go to work fulltime instead. He got his truck drivers license, and became an independent semi truck driver, which paid the bills to support his true love: music. Alan was a naturally gifted musician, and taught himself to play the guitar and sing. He played many, many gigs over the years, thrilling the crowd everywhere he went. Alan had a sound similar to the popular Hank Williams or Merle Haggard, singing with their same country twang, to boot. Once Alan was introduced to play for Sullivan Hall by the popular Rem Wall of the Green Valley Jamboree, which landed him an invite to play at Opryland in Nashville, but he declined, knowing his future lay on the highways, not the airwaves. Alan was a hardworking man, and his truck driving took him to all corners of the country, including every state besides Alaska. He had hundreds of funny, scary or entertaining stories from his travels, too. One snowy, icy day he was driving a fuel tanker, when a packed school bus pulled out in front of him. All he could think about were those kids, and miraculously, Alan somehow managed to swerve the tanker around the bus! That was his scariest moment in a long career of driving. As much as he enjoyed his professional career, Alans personal life was even more rewarding to him. His cousins introduced him to a wonderful woman named Anna Mae, who was a married mother of six at the time. Not long after, she became divorced, and their love bloomed. The two dated for a long time, and were married on September 22, 1962. Anna Mae was surprised to later learn that Alan hadnt told her the truth about his age, wanting to seem older than he really was! Alan was so thrilled to become a husband and father, though, and proudly treated Anna Maes children as his own. They moved to Dalton Township, and not long after, the couple added to their clan, with their daughter Loretta joining the family. The couples second child together, Wanda, was sadly stillborn. Eventually the family packed up and moved into Alans family home, on Cline Road in Fruitport. He bought it from his aunt for $2,500, making the $50 payment each month. Once, he missed a payment, and the court threatened to evict him! They stayed, and the home was such an integral part of their lives together. Alans family had built it with their bare hands over the generations, and he and Anna Mae continued to fill it with love. They also added their daughter Anita to the family while living there, where they lived the rest of their days. That home was always filled with the aroma of Anna Maes baked goods, and always chock-full of family (including 8 kids and one bathroom!). Every holiday it was the gathering place for the whole family, a warm and welcoming haven, elbow-to-elbow with people. And animals, too! Alan had a soft spot in his heart for pets, especially the many beloved Chihuahuas they had over the years. His kids were always finding stray dogs and they always found a home at Alans house. Of course, being in the trucking business, Alan was away from home quite often. He loved being on the road, where he had many friends, who all knew him by his Black Label Kid license plate and CB handle. He loved that lager, and everyone claims Alan was the reason the beer stayed in business! After he retired, he had more time to spend with his beloved family, and to devote to his many hobbies. He kept busy raising his Chihuahuas, riding motorcycles, going to flea markets, car auctions, pawn shops, and yes, he loved to sit back and enjoy a few Black Labels, too! Alan also loved to entertain his family and friends with his many stories, which he told with such humor, pride, and most of all, heart. The Black Label Kid had a blue-ribbon heart, and was the kind of man who would give someone the shirt off his back or his last dollar. Later in life, Alan and his beloved Anna Mae became estranged, and she decided she wanted to move out and live on her own. He loved her all the same, and was heartbroken when she died of cancer in 2005, after 43 years of marriage. He persevered for a few years, but sadly, Alan died on August 17, 2007, at the age of 71. Alan was a wonderful man, who lived a wonderful life, a life full of adventure, friendship and family. He was a hardworking truck driver, a talented musician, loving husband, father, grandfather, great grand father and friend, a Black Label man with a blue-ribbon heart. His daughter Loretta says her dad was her hero, and she always wanted to marry a man just like him. Yet more than anything, Alan was truly one of a kind. He will be greatly missed. Alan was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Wanda, his wife Anna Mae, sisters Carol and Ilia, stepson Norman and Jerry Schultz. Members of his family include his daughters, Anita (Darrin) Maginity, and Loretta (John) Bussing-Jerovsek, sister Marilyn Rosencrants, brother Bruce (Donna) Bussing, grandchildren, great grand children, nieces & nephews, friends and many Chihuahuas! Visitation is Wednesday August 22, 2007 from 2-4 and 6-7 p.m. at Clock Life Story Funeral Home, Muskegon. An informal Life Story memorial service is Wednesday August 22, 2007 beginning at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment is Thursday August 23, 2007 at 10 a.m. at Sullivan Township Cemetery, with a reception following at Clock Family Center, Clock Life Story Funeral Home, 1469 Peck Street, Muskegon 12:00 2:00 p.m. To share a memory or photo of Alan, or to sign his online guestbook, please visit his Memory Page at www.lifestorynet.com.