Murray Dwight Houske
August 9, 1928 — April 30, 2017
Murray D. (Bud) Houske
After 88 amazing years with us, Bud Houske passed away April 30, 2017 at his home in Garden Grove, California. Born in Cincinatti, Ohio to Evelon and Margaret (nee Bray) Houske on August 9, 1928, Murray Dwight Houske is known to all as Bud (a nickname from childhood that he much preferred to his given name). He was raised in Omaha, Nebraska and later lived his adult life in Southern California, with his much beloved wife, Barbara. While Bud had many unique traits and characteristics, his warm heart and sharp wit stands at the top of the top of the list. Afflicted with polyps on his larynx at the age of 4, Bud underwent several surgeries that went awry and lived with a tracheotomy for the rest of his life. Without the benefit of speech therapists in the early 1930’s, Bud taught himself to speak in a manner that was understandable by those who chose to listen carefully. Those who did were rewarded with his good humor and way with a story. Bud had innumerable friends in Omaha and loved to tell stories of their ongoing adventures – particularly if it involved cars. Bud was set up on a blind date with the love of his life, Barbara Hubbard in 1953. He declared that night that he would marry her and in 1956 after paying two dollars for a marriage license, he did just that – he notes it as the best money he ever spent (while Barb notes it as the best bargain he ever got). The honeymoon trip was the drive that moved Bud and Barb to Southern California and Manhattan Beach, where they settled into the sunshine and had their first child, Thomas Benjamin. A few years later, Sheila Marie was born and the young family moved to Garden Grove, CA and had a third child, Kimberly Sue. Bud and Barb lived in this family home until his recent death. Bud built a successful career in the aerospace industry as a draftsman and later a manufacturing engineer, quite a feat with his disability and having attended college but without having earned a college degree. He and Barb sent all three children through 12 years of Catholic school and built a loving and stable home for them. Always uncertain about how his health might hold up and having saved through his relentless and well-known frugality, Bud chose to retire early at the age of 55. He and Barb selectively traveled and particularly enjoyed cruises and other adventures with Barb’s sister, Rosetta Pfaff and her husband Gus. Bud enjoyed golf throughout his life – both watching and playing it and had the good fortune to play Pebble Beach and attend the Masters. Later, at the age of 80, Bud and Barb would travel with their girls, Sheila and Kim and their son-in-law, Craig, to Norway and the town of Bud’s lineage, Hausken. Surprising to many, including himself, Bud outlived most of his dearest friends. Though he missed them terribly, their memories lived on through his stories and the laughter around all of their shenanigans.
Bud Houske is survived by the woman he adored, Barbara Houske, along with his children Tom, Sheila and Kim and his son-in-law, Craig McKesson and his four grandsons. He lived an incredible life and left a lasting imprint on anyone who met him. We will miss you sweet ‘ol Bud; to us you were perfect.
Services for Bud Houske will be held at St. Anne’s Catholic Church on Friday, May 5 at 11am, officiated by Father Al Scott.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our website.
After 88 amazing years with us, Bud Houske passed away April 30, 2017 at his home in Garden Grove, California. Born in Cincinatti, Ohio to Evelon and Margaret (nee Bray) Houske on August 9, 1928, Murray Dwight Houske is known to all as Bud (a nickname from childhood that he much preferred to his given name). He was raised in Omaha, Nebraska and later lived his adult life in Southern California, with his much beloved wife, Barbara. While Bud had many unique traits and characteristics, his warm heart and sharp wit stands at the top of the top of the list. Afflicted with polyps on his larynx at the age of 4, Bud underwent several surgeries that went awry and lived with a tracheotomy for the rest of his life. Without the benefit of speech therapists in the early 1930’s, Bud taught himself to speak in a manner that was understandable by those who chose to listen carefully. Those who did were rewarded with his good humor and way with a story. Bud had innumerable friends in Omaha and loved to tell stories of their ongoing adventures – particularly if it involved cars. Bud was set up on a blind date with the love of his life, Barbara Hubbard in 1953. He declared that night that he would marry her and in 1956 after paying two dollars for a marriage license, he did just that – he notes it as the best money he ever spent (while Barb notes it as the best bargain he ever got). The honeymoon trip was the drive that moved Bud and Barb to Southern California and Manhattan Beach, where they settled into the sunshine and had their first child, Thomas Benjamin. A few years later, Sheila Marie was born and the young family moved to Garden Grove, CA and had a third child, Kimberly Sue. Bud and Barb lived in this family home until his recent death. Bud built a successful career in the aerospace industry as a draftsman and later a manufacturing engineer, quite a feat with his disability and having attended college but without having earned a college degree. He and Barb sent all three children through 12 years of Catholic school and built a loving and stable home for them. Always uncertain about how his health might hold up and having saved through his relentless and well-known frugality, Bud chose to retire early at the age of 55. He and Barb selectively traveled and particularly enjoyed cruises and other adventures with Barb’s sister, Rosetta Pfaff and her husband Gus. Bud enjoyed golf throughout his life – both watching and playing it and had the good fortune to play Pebble Beach and attend the Masters. Later, at the age of 80, Bud and Barb would travel with their girls, Sheila and Kim and their son-in-law, Craig, to Norway and the town of Bud’s lineage, Hausken. Surprising to many, including himself, Bud outlived most of his dearest friends. Though he missed them terribly, their memories lived on through his stories and the laughter around all of their shenanigans.
Bud Houske is survived by the woman he adored, Barbara Houske, along with his children Tom, Sheila and Kim and his son-in-law, Craig McKesson and his four grandsons. He lived an incredible life and left a lasting imprint on anyone who met him. We will miss you sweet ‘ol Bud; to us you were perfect.
Services for Bud Houske will be held at St. Anne’s Catholic Church on Friday, May 5 at 11am, officiated by Father Al Scott.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our website.
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