Edward B. Buxton

Edward Byers Buxton died peacefully at his home in Beaver Dam on March 27, 2018, at the age of 94. He was born on February 28, 1924, in Waterloo, Iowa, after his mother was brought to the hospital by horse-drawn sled. He was the only child of Hulda Rachel Byers Buxton and Edward James Buxton. Ed grew up on a farm outside of Waterloo. He attended local country schools before joining the Navy in 1944, serving for two years. While stationed in Japan he visited the site of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. Following his honorable discharge, he attended the University of Iowa, graduating in 1949. On August 7, 1950, he was united in marriage with his wife, Shirley Eileen Buxton, at the First Congregational Church of Iowa City. They moved to Cincinnati, where he received a master’s degree in social work from Ohio State University in 1951. Ed’s first employment was as a social worker for the Wisconsin Child Center in Sparta. From there, he went to Neenah to work as a social worker for Winnebago County in Oshkosh. He next moved to Beaver Dam in 1956, serving for a number of years as a social work supervisor in Juneau for Dodge County. In 1967, he became an associate professor of social work with UW Extension at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, providing continuing education for social workers. Ed continued to live in Beaver Dam, commuting daily to Madison. He retired in 1991 as a full professor and was awarded a Certificate of Recognition as professor emeritus. Ed and Shirley had five children, along with 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Edward “Tim” Timothy (Mary Kay Anderson) of Albuquerque (grandchildren Ben [Silaja Cheruvu] and Elspeth [Adam Sanders], great-grandsons Rohan and Satyam Buxton and Avery Sanders); Kevin J. Buxton (Bonnie) of Fond du Lac (grandchildren Aaron, Rachel Faust [Joe], Austin, Simon, Ethan, Rebecca, Sarah, Amelia and Collin, and great-granddaughter Liliana Faust); Jennifer M. Buxton (Dennis Appleton) of Madison; Cynthia E. Kostick (Kevin) of Wauwatosa (granddaughter Camille); and Eric C. Buxton (Julie) of Madison (grandsons Isaac, Elliot and Colton). As a long-time member of Trinity United Methodist Church, he served on various committees, taught high school and adult Sunday school classes, and was on the board of Church Health Services. He joined Toastmasters, was president of the Wisconsin Human Relations Council, served on the Williams Free Library board, and was an officer of the National Association of Social Workers. Ed lived an optimistic, productive and fulfilling life, highlighted by a continual appreciation for learning, insatiable curiosity about human nature and the world, and a never-ending compassion for those in need. He took enormous pleasure in family activities, including travels in the U.S., Europe and Africa. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, reading, studying history and archaeology, gardening, music and walking. He loved fishing on Ham Lake with his friend Don Noltner, and spending time at his land on the Pine River in Waushara County, often with friends Norm Whitford and Roger Hasbrouck. If there was one joy in Ed’s life that eclipsed all others, it was his wife, Shirley, whom he loved and cherished for every minute of 67 years of marriage. A memorial gathering will be held Saturday, April 14, 2018, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at TRINITY CHURCH UNITED METHODIST in Beaver Dam. A memorial service will follow at the church at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Cherie Forret officiating. With military honors to follow conducted by the Beaver Dam American Legion Post #146. Inurnment will follow at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Trinity United Methodist Church, the Beaver Dam Area Orchestra or the Beaver Dam Community Library would be greatly appreciated. Our most sincere thanks to the Beaver Dam Community Hospital staff and Hillside Hospice. Thanks also to Dr. Michael Augustson for his years of care and support. A special note of gratitude to all of Ed’s caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care, who worked tirelessly to maintain his quality of life as he struggled with Alzheimer’s in his final years. They made all the difference for Ed and the family, and are appreciated beyond words. Ed will be greatly missed by his family and friends, and by the thousands of people whose lives he touched, lives that are richer for having encountered Ed Buxton.