Leonard 'Lenny' J. Bushem Sr.
Leonard “Lenny” J. Bushem Sr., 92, of West Deer Township passed away Sunday at the Colonial Gardens Guest House in Butler.
Born on June 28, 1921, in Carnegie, Pa., he was the son of the late Vito and Josephine (Columbus) Buscemi.
Lenny was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor, who fought in the battles of Guadalcanal, Midway and the Solomon Islands, among others. He was discharged after contracting malaria, which he struggled with for the rest of his life.
He was an owner and operator of his own semitrailer, logging over 2 million miles. He then became a diesel engine mechanic.
An exceptional bowler, he played well into his eighties. He was a member of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, the American Legion, and the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. He served as the commander of the Morningside VFW. Lenny used his experiences to teach school children about World War II.
He is survived by four daughters, Sandra Lee Dowdy of Longwood, Fla., Cathy (Ron) Henderson of Dallas, Texas, Nancy (Art) Hall of Penn Township, and Barbara (Mike) Kidder of West Deer Township; a son, Leonard Bushem Jr. of New Castle; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Faith DeLong of California, and Pauline (Stanley) Tishman and Rosalie Dodson, both of Crafton, and a brother, Lawrence Bushem of California.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Gladys (Green) Bushem; a daughter, Judith Ann Schrott; three brothers, Anthony, Arthur and Joseph Bushem, and three sisters, Nancy Neil, Grace McIntyre and Marion Braunstein.
Bushem — The family of Leonard “Lenny” J. Bushem Sr., who passed away Sunday, March 2, 2014, will welcome friends from noon until 8 p.m. Thursday at the King Funeral Home, 2841 Woodland Circle, Allison Park. There will be an American Legion service at 7 p.m.A Mass of Christian burial will be at 11:30 a.m. Friday at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 2510 Middle Road, Glenshaw. He will be laid to rest at the Assumption Cemetery in Glenshaw.If desired, memorial donations may be made in his honor in support of Colonial Gardens Guest House, 121 Steppland Road, Butler, PA 16002.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with Lenny's family at www.kingfuneralhome.com.
