William J. Buckenberger, 79, went to be with his Lord on December 26, 2022. He was born on June 6, 1943 to Joseph and Helen (Bohaczenko) Buckenberger. Bill was a 1961 graduate of Perrysburg High School. He earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Education from Bowling Green State University and his Master’s of Education degree from the University of Toledo. He taught 7-8 grade Math and Science for 31 years at Perrysburg Junior High, serving many years as chairman of the Science Department. He was the Perrysburg Jaycee’s “Outstanding Young Educator of the Year” in 1972, and in 1985 was chosen to be a Jennings Scholar, which honors excellent educators in Ohio. He belonged to Phi Delta Kappa, an educational fraternity.
He really enjoyed being the Science Club advisor and helping his students discover that Science can be fun, whether building model airplanes and rockets or dissecting chicken wings from Fricker’s with co-teacher Chuck Hablitzel. They also grew tomatoes at 577 Foundation from seeds that had been carried into space on a NASA space shuttle. True to his love of nature, he looked forward to the fall get-aways at Mohican State Park with the guys from school, headed by his friend, Bernie Frick, and his trips to Holmes County with the Cremer’s and Frick’s.
Growing up on a farm that had been in his family for 2 generations he planted and harvested along side his father and grew to have an appreciation of the land. He hunted rabbits and pheasants on the acres behind his home on Avenue Road. He loved going out in the snowiest conditions. When he moved into town, he still enjoyed taking winter walks in the snow. He fished Lake Erie, and went on several fly-in-fishing trips in remote Canada with his dad, brother, Jim, and nephew, Dave, always returning with great stories and fish.
He grew up palling around with Don Keller and Ron (Boh) Bohaczenko, probably contributing to his mother’s premature gray hair!
He was the last charter member of The Lutheran Church of the Master, having moved with his parents from Zoar Lutheran to help start the new church. To help pay his tuition to BGSU, he was the church’s first custodian, doing everything from cleaning to mowing. He taught catechism for several years and was on the church council. He was raised to have a strong faith and that continued his entire life.
He met Jennie Smithers at church and they married there on June 23,1968, sharing 54 years. She survives. Also left to cherish his memory is his sister-in-law, Biruta Buckenberger, Reynoldsburg, OH; niece, Lori Colbert (with whom he shared a birthdate), Evanston, IL; and her children, Grant, Grace, and Izzy, cousins, Mike (Sue Snyder) Davey, Judy (Ron) King, all of Perrysburg; Danielle Bunde, Springfield, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jim and his nephew, David.
A celebration of Bill’s life will be held Saturday, January 14, 2023 at The Lutheran Church of the Master, 28744 Simmons Road, Perrysburg. Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. with the service starting at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to the church. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Witzler-Shank-Walker Funeral Home, Perrysburg (419-874-3133). Condolences may be made online to the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.
“Whoever sows to please the Spirit from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8.
