Hi everyone. Just a heads up to let you know that my dad passed away last night at the age of 97. The business will be shut down Monday and Tuesday next week to allow Dale and I to tend to the funeral.
My family is truly blessed. About 2 months ago dad had some health issues that left him with no appetite. This led to him losing weight to the point where he was down to skin and bones. Last Friday Dale took him in for a doctor's appointment. They discovered a tumor in his intestines and placed him in the hospital where he remained until his demise. His body was shutting down and because of that, it was too risky for the doctors to operate. It was his time to go, he knew it, and accepted it. During his stay he had many visitors from family members and his friends. He was alert, in no pain,and in good spirits, cracking jokes with his visitors and the hospital staff. He was definitely not the run of the mill patient you would expect to see occupying a bed. The family members began to refer to it being the death bed comedy hour. With him being alert, allowed everyone's last goodbye to be accepted and acknowledged plus we were able co-ordinate any last minute wishes with him for his funeral (which was prepaid and planned back in 1997).
All and all a wonderful experience that I am grateful to have witnessed. There is more to this story that is being written by one of his friends (his eulogy) which I will post when it becomes available. He was an amazing man who touched a lot of lives and all the family members are proud of him. :)
Alan Buehner
God blesses each of us in his own special way, your dad must have been a truly blessed person. Mike
Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1978 KTM 250'S
1975 Can Am 175 TNT 250 conversion
1976-78 125-400 RM's & 79 PE250 Suzuki & 2012 DR650
2007 CR125R Honda
1977 MC250 Maico
God Bless you and the rest of the family. i should be so lucky when my time comes to be as accepting. Godspeed.
Al,
You and your Family are in my Prayers.
Ron Carbaugh
Al,
I am very sorry to hear about your loss. Please accept my condolences.
Andreas
Al and Dale,
We are so sorry for your loss and send our condolences.
Mike and Karen Schulz
Al Dale
SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR Dad.
Bud and Pat Green
Al and Dale,
Sorry to hear about your dad passing. I can only imagine a 97 year old fella regaling the nurses with tales of the day. I'm almost afraid to ask if he had a twirled-up mustache. Sounds like you guys are a strong family.
Mike H.
Please accept my condolences Al and Dale. I agree you witness a special event, and I think that both of you, from having met you and dealt with you briefly, and definitely your fathers sons, and a tribute to him also. This sounds like a life well lived and lived to the fullest, and he has truly gone on to his reward and you shall see him again some day.
Sincerely,
Dan McEntee
sorry for your loss al.havent met you guys personally yet but have talked to you on the phone quite a bit for parts.sorry!
rich skeweris
Al and Dale,
I am very sorry to hear of your loss. Our thoughts will be with your family as he completes his journey.
Dale Fisher
Penton Owners Group - President/Memberships
Mudlark Registry
Facebook - Cheney Twinshock Racing Group - Administrator
'70 Six-Day 125 - V2017
'71 Six-Day 125 (Dave Fisher's) - V5553
'72 Mudlark - W257
'73 Jackpiner - 175 21159727
'74 Berkshire 100 - 40171056
'98 HP-14 Hi-Point
And some silly other bikes...
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the family Al. Thanks for sharing with us. Tom & Deanna
Tom Murphy
'73 250 Hare Scrambler
'74 250 Hare Scrambler
'73 125 six day
'73 Berkshire 100
'74 125 six day
'74 Mint 400
'74 Maico 440
'72 Mudlark
'81 RM125
'82 RM250
Dale and I gratefully accept your condolences.
No, my dad never had a mustache. He was a clean cut self made business man that wore a suit and tie most of his life.
He started his Buehners Office Supply Company around 1954 with about $50 in capital out of the trunk of his car. He built the company up from virtually nothing through hard work, sacrafice, and perseverance. I became involved with the business before there were child labor laws. My brother Dale came on board after graduating from high school. We bought him out in the mid 80's where he retired. In the 90's he became involved with a dance group called the "Raisin' Canes" at the local senior center. This was a major shift in his life where he discovered his reason for being on this earth plane. Up until last year when he made the decision to retire from the dance group (his body was no longer able to keep up with his mind), he had a reason to get up out of bed each morning. This is why he lived such a long and enjoyable life. His dance director is writing up his life story. As soon I get a copy of it I will post it on this link to share it with you. It is an amazing story. :D
Alan Buehner
Very sorry for your loss.
Mike Korgan
Al and Dale,
My deepest sympathy to you and your entire family.
Dave McCullough
Thank you Al, Dale, And Mr. Beuhner. You have all touched our lives and we are blessed by your friendship.
Mick
Al and Dale. I'm sorry to hear this news, but I'm glad you had those last moments with him. We are praying for your family. Hank and Elaine.
Hank Rinehart
Our thought & prayers are with you.
The Martin family
My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Lew Mayer
Al, Dale and family
So sorry to hear the news, will be sure to keep you and your families in our prayers.
Al, Dale, and Buehner family
My condolences that you lost your father, I'll be thinking of you all, take care.
Bob Wardlow
Al and Dale
Very sorry to hear about your loss. He must have been a great man, he raised two fine boys.
Rod G
So sorry to read this.our thoughts are with you.
Dear Al & Dale, I'm so sorry to hear of your fathers passing. You were truly bless to have such a dad. From the stories that you have told, he was a man of great character and must have really enjoyed life. May the good memories of his last days stay with you and the family forever. Your friend, Paul
Dear Al,
Your words clearly describe the respect and admiration that you have for your father and the positive and humorous role model he was for you, your family and his friends. Thank you for sharing this news with us. I am inspired by your strength and positiveness at this time of your loss. May you, Dale, your family, and your father's friends continue to celebrate your father's rich and enduring life, as well as the comfort he provided for all those around him even until the last hours of his life.
My sincerest sympathy,
Pat Mickevicius
Al and Dale,
So so sorry to read of your loss. Will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Jeff
Al;
It is with deepest sympathies that I read about the passing of your Dad. Someone once said the judge of a man is to look at those he leaves behind... and those lives he has touched... your Dad is well regarded in all matters. It is with my sincere condolences that I wish your Dad Godspeed. Larry Ward
Thank you all for your condolences. The following is the eulogy for my dad.
Frank Buehner, 97 was Aiming for 100
Senior Cleveland Entertainer's dream was
to "pass up George Burns"
by Judy Martins
Audiences across Northeast Ohio, young and old alike, will fondly remember Frank "Maurice" Buehner for his successful 16-year run with the Raisin' Canes, senior vaudeville dancers from the Smallwood
Senior Center in Parma. He energetically performed his spot-on Maurice Chevalier solo routine well over 1,000 times, dazzling the ladies with his uncanny resemblance to the French star and his charming smile and hugs. He danced and kibitzed his way into their hearts to the song, "I'm Glad I'm not Young Anymore."
Many enter show business at an early age, but NOT many have launched a career on the boards at age 80. In 1999 he visited the Smallwood Center in search of a pinochle game, and made a wrong turn into
the large mirrored room where the Raisin' Canes were rehearsing. The delighted group handed him a cane, locked the door, and began teaching him their vaudeville dance routines. The rest is history. He'd always loved dancing, but never dreamed he was destined to become be a tap-dancing vaudeville star in his 80s and 90s. He loved to perform. Off stage, he'd often begin chatting with strangers in area restaurants while having supper, and ultimately be on his feet doing "Maurice," leading them in song. The smiling waitresses and other diners would break into applause, just loving the fun.
Entertaining with the Raisin' Canes at countless events and facilities over the years, he was especially inspired and gratified during performances at nursing homes by the brightened, smiling faces of the residents. Their delight, grateful appreciation and hugs were "what he lived for."
Frank was fifth in a family of 10 children, growing up during the Great Depression on Cleveland's east side, near League Park. For entertainment, he and his friends would gather outside with catcher's mitts during Indians' games, hoping to catch a long fly or home run ball—and he had an amazing collection! He remained a loyal and fervent fan of all Cleveland teams throughout his lifetime.
Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor he enlisted in the U. S. Navy. He served from 1941 thru 1945,on the Commander's Flagship, LSM 54, in 7 major and 10 minor Pacific campaigns, including the major battle at Leyte Gulf (formerly known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, and generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history).
Frank earned an Accounting Degree from Fenn College, and in 1949 married Arlene Seelye, a lovely nursing graduate from St. Johns College. He started his own business, Consumers Products, which
later became Buehner's Office Supplies at West 58th and Detroit, during which time he served as Director of the National Office Machine Dealers Association, and officer of Cleveland Office Machine Dealers.
The couple and their growing family moved to Parma in 1958, becoming active members of St. Francis de Sales Church. Frank held many positions within the parish, including their Holy Name Society, and
among other honors was proud to have been voted their "Man of the Year."
Relinquishing the business to his sons in 1986, Frank retired at age 69. He welcomed the extra time to play pinochle, bowl on three leagues, but most especially to spend with his 12 children (9 sons and three daughters) and their families (now 23 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren). He lost his beloved Arlene in 1997, but treasured their nearly 50 years of love and devotion, happiness, travel, dancing and especially raising their family together.
Frank said he had a "ticket for the midnight train." He passed away on July 22nd, 11:37 pm at Parma Hospital, surrounded by his loving family and a lifetime of outstanding accomplishments and wonderful
memories.
Alan Buehner
Al and Dale,
So sorry to hear of your Dad's passing. He will live on in your memories and those of others, and will always be close in your hearts. God bless you and your family.
Jeff DeBell
Al and Dale I am sorry for your loss! I am just reading this post now. It sounds like your father was a very special guy !!
Sincerely
Paul