Don 'Bucky' Buchheister

DON "BUCKY" BUCHHEISTER

Cedar Rapids

Don "Bucky" Buchheister, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed peacefully on Oct. 2, 2018, at the age of 87. Bucky was a graduate of Franklin High School. He married the love of his life, Beatrice Duarte, in 1951. He is survived by his wife, Beatrice; sisters, Lavaun Stramel of Cedar Rapids and Ruby Cornish of St Paul; children, Debbie Rickabaugh of Elizabethtown, Pa., David Buchheister and his wife, Kim, of Kansas City, Doug Buchheister of Orlando, Fla., and Denise Lindo and her husband, Patrick, of Kailua, Hawaii; five grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Bucky and his mascot, Lamar, were staples at the Cedar Rapids Memorial Baseball Stadium, where Bucky served as general manager for 18 years. During his tenure, he was inducted into the Cedar Rapids Baseball Club Hall of Fame in 2007. In 1976, he was named Executive of the Year by the Sporting News and also Executive of the Year for the Midwest League by the National Association of Professional Baseball.

Bucky was involved with baseball all of his life. In 1949, he was signed to play professional baseball in Cedar Rapids, but was sidelined with an injury before playing a single game. He continued playing and later coaching and managing teams in the Cedar Rapids Kids' league, where he served as president in 1981. He also played as an adult in the M & J League.

Don also worked for Kilborn Photo paper and sold real estate with John Zachar and United Realtors.

Bucky was an idea man, a top-notch promoter and a devoted family man. He was kind, generous and fun to be around. He lived his life with a twinkle in his eye.

The family will be holding an informal meet-and-greet at the Flamingo Restaurant, 1211 Ellis Blvd. NW in Cedar Rapids on Friday, Nov. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m.