1928
The
2011
The Buchanan
May 5, 1928 — April 21, 2011
Judge Allan D. Buchanan, age 82, died Thursday evening, April 21, just as he hoped to, in his Willmar home with his wife beside him, and without illness or warning.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. Military Honors will be provided by the Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post 167 of Willmar. Allan will be missed by countless friends from MN to TX and in between. The family invites anyone who knew him to share any stories at www.petersonbrothers.com. Memorials are preferred, the familly is setting up a educational fund locally in Allan's name.
Allan Douglas Buchanan was born on May 5, 1928 in Seneca, SD, the son of Florence Marcella (Mueller) and Leal J. Buchanan. He and his family eventually settled in Bemidji where his father was the local pharmacist and an expert hunter. Here Al developed a lifelong passion for all things outdoors. He attended college at Bemidji State and University of North Dakota law school, and was on active duty with the US Air Force based in TX and ID. One weekend, Al visited a friend in Minneapolis. He met Jeanette Sevshek at the Prom ballroom, not knowing they'd spend 50+ years together. They married in Chisholm at First Lutheran Church on December 28, 1957. The newlyweds soon turned into a family and arrived in Willmar in 1963. "The Judge" was elected municipal judge in 1964. He was county court judge and district judge before semi-retiring in 1995. He worked part-time through 2001. He was known for keeping a sense of humor and empathy on the bench and in the courthouse. The Judge was a familiar figure in Willmar. He was often seen bicycling to work, joining the regulars for breakfast at the Town Talk, walking through town, or working on his garden. He was active in numerous civic organizationsa�"Elks, Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Toastmasters, Trap Club, Sportsmen's Club, Little Crow Anglers and American Legion, where he had served as commander. He also graced the Willmar traveling Bantam Hockey team of the 1980s with his skill at running the buses.
Al spent his life doing what he loved, being where he wanted to be, and connecting with the people he cared about. A devoted family man, he made everyone feel like his favoritea�"and maybe they were. He loved being a grandpa and attending events from hockey games to plays. Always interested in others, Al reveled in talking to friends, family and strangers. He encouraged people to pursue what they wanted and lived it himself. After age 70, he became a world travelera�"Europe, Morocco, Central America and his beloved Alaska. He also appeared in the Coen Brothers movie A Serious Man as an extra. More than anything, he loved fishing and cherished the annual Buchanan family trip to Canada. The guys were awakened by Al bellowing, "Daylight in the swamp!" before he cooked a hearty breakfast. He was also famous for his apple pies, avid reading and love of musica�"he even played violin. An active member of Vinje Lutheran Church, he had taught Sunday school, ushered, served communion and manned the dishwashing crew for events. For the past 15 years, he and Jeanette wintered in Port Aransas, TX where they made dear new friends and caught many fish. His family regrets that Al takes the end of the Guinea Pig Story to his grave. He always laughed too hard to finish it. Al leaves us all with this thought: "Think positive and the fish will jump into the boat."
He is survived by his wife, Jeanette; son, Douglas (and Lynn) Buchanan of Willmar and grandchildren William (and Abby) Buchanan of South Bend, IN, Saralyn Buchanan of Duluth, Andrew and Jacob Buchanan of Willmar; son Curtis Buchanan of Washington, DC; daughter Kimberly (and Gary) Kocken of Lakeville, and grandchildren Britney, Dylan and Alexis Kocken of Lakeville; son David (and Julie Kucinski)Buchanan of Minneapolis. He also surviving are brothers; Jerome Buchanan of Bemidji and David (Darlene) Buchanan of Casa Grande, AZ , mother-in-law, Rose T. Sevshek of Willmar, sister-in-law, Karen Bjorgo of Minnetonka and dear niece, Benita Bjorgo (Joe Van Sloun) of Minnetonka.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jim Buchanan.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, April 30, at Vinje Lutheran Church in Willmar. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 29, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. Military Honors will be provided by the Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post 167 of Willmar. Allan will be missed by countless friends from MN to TX and in between. The family invites anyone who knew him to share any stories at www.petersonbrothers.com. Memorials are preferred, the familly is setting up a educational fund locally in Allan's name.
Allan Douglas Buchanan was born on May 5, 1928 in Seneca, SD, the son of Florence Marcella (Mueller) and Leal J. Buchanan. He and his family eventually settled in Bemidji where his father was the local pharmacist and an expert hunter. Here Al developed a lifelong passion for all things outdoors. He attended college at Bemidji State and University of North Dakota law school, and was on active duty with the US Air Force based in TX and ID. One weekend, Al visited a friend in Minneapolis. He met Jeanette Sevshek at the Prom ballroom, not knowing they'd spend 50+ years together. They married in Chisholm at First Lutheran Church on December 28, 1957. The newlyweds soon turned into a family and arrived in Willmar in 1963. "The Judge" was elected municipal judge in 1964. He was county court judge and district judge before semi-retiring in 1995. He worked part-time through 2001. He was known for keeping a sense of humor and empathy on the bench and in the courthouse. The Judge was a familiar figure in Willmar. He was often seen bicycling to work, joining the regulars for breakfast at the Town Talk, walking through town, or working on his garden. He was active in numerous civic organizationsa�"Elks, Kandiyohi County Historical Society, Toastmasters, Trap Club, Sportsmen's Club, Little Crow Anglers and American Legion, where he had served as commander. He also graced the Willmar traveling Bantam Hockey team of the 1980s with his skill at running the buses.
Al spent his life doing what he loved, being where he wanted to be, and connecting with the people he cared about. A devoted family man, he made everyone feel like his favoritea�"and maybe they were. He loved being a grandpa and attending events from hockey games to plays. Always interested in others, Al reveled in talking to friends, family and strangers. He encouraged people to pursue what they wanted and lived it himself. After age 70, he became a world travelera�"Europe, Morocco, Central America and his beloved Alaska. He also appeared in the Coen Brothers movie A Serious Man as an extra. More than anything, he loved fishing and cherished the annual Buchanan family trip to Canada. The guys were awakened by Al bellowing, "Daylight in the swamp!" before he cooked a hearty breakfast. He was also famous for his apple pies, avid reading and love of musica�"he even played violin. An active member of Vinje Lutheran Church, he had taught Sunday school, ushered, served communion and manned the dishwashing crew for events. For the past 15 years, he and Jeanette wintered in Port Aransas, TX where they made dear new friends and caught many fish. His family regrets that Al takes the end of the Guinea Pig Story to his grave. He always laughed too hard to finish it. Al leaves us all with this thought: "Think positive and the fish will jump into the boat."
He is survived by his wife, Jeanette; son, Douglas (and Lynn) Buchanan of Willmar and grandchildren William (and Abby) Buchanan of South Bend, IN, Saralyn Buchanan of Duluth, Andrew and Jacob Buchanan of Willmar; son Curtis Buchanan of Washington, DC; daughter Kimberly (and Gary) Kocken of Lakeville, and grandchildren Britney, Dylan and Alexis Kocken of Lakeville; son David (and Julie Kucinski)Buchanan of Minneapolis. He also surviving are brothers; Jerome Buchanan of Bemidji and David (Darlene) Buchanan of Casa Grande, AZ , mother-in-law, Rose T. Sevshek of Willmar, sister-in-law, Karen Bjorgo of Minnetonka and dear niece, Benita Bjorgo (Joe Van Sloun) of Minnetonka.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jim Buchanan.
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