Donald Buckman, age 93, a resident of Shell Lake, Wisconsin, passed away of natural causes on Thursday, January 6, 2022, at Indianhead Medical Center.

Donald was born on September 20, 1928, to Herman R. Buckman and Leola Larson Buckman in Superior, Wisconsin.

After his tour of duty in the Army, he married Carol McLean, a fellow Northland graduate, who had spent those Army years as a school librarian in Viroqua, Wisconsin. He decided to go back to school and received additional degrees from the University of Minnesota. While there, working on a master’s degree in educational administration, he met principals from the Richfield School District (a Minneapolis suburb) who encouraged him to apply there as they needed men in the elementary schools. He was interviewed and hired the same day. He first taught sixth grade at Wood Lake School, was a resource teacher for all grade schools, then became principal at Portland School, and ended that career at Centennial Elementary School after 32 years in the Richfield School District.

In 1978, after the passing of his stepsister, Ruby Berglund Short, and her husband, Bob, he and Carol became the legal guardians of their 10-year-old niece, Eileen Short.

He retired in 1986. Together he and Carol decided that retirement was travel time – many Elderhostel experiences in this country and abroad followed. Civil War history was a special interest and visiting practically all the battlefields and memorials provided many travel destinations. He was a collector: Civil War and Native American artifacts (where it could legally be done), rocks, coins, stamps, books on many subjects, and they cultivated friends everywhere.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Fred Berglund; stepsiblings, Ruby Short and David Berglund; his brother, Dr. Robert Buckman; and sister-in-law, Marie Buckman, of Corvallis, OR.

He is survived by his wife of almost 68 years, Carol Buckman; his daughter, Eileen Short Reuss (Michael); and grandson, John Reuss, of Woodbury, MN. Also, many nieces and nephews in Oregon. He leaves behind many friends, former Richfield Public School colleagues, and many Buchman cousins.

Services are being planned for Spring of 2022.

Last Update: Jan 18, 2022 6:00 am CST