Bussen, Herbert A.

Jesuit Brother Herbert A. Bussen died January 31, 2011, at Saint Louis University Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was 95 years old and a Jesuit for 50 years. Born in St. Louis on May 22, 1915, Br. Bussen served in the United States Army from 1942 to 1945. Later, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service and cared for his mother until her death in 1959. Br. Bussen entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Seminary in Florissant, Mo., on March 10, 1960. He professed final vows in the Society on August 15, 1970, at the Fusz Memorial Chapel in St. Louis.

After novitiate, Br. Bussen began 40 years of service at Regis University in Denver. He ran the mail room at the university from 1963 to 1979. After completing evening classes in accounting, he served as the Treasurer of the Jesuit Community from 1979 to 1991, carrying out his duties with great care and precision. Br. Bussen became well known on campus as he made his rounds collecting aluminum cans for recycling, the proceeds from which he would send to the missions. In 1991, he became a of member of the newly-founded Xavier Jesuit Community where he continued to serve as treasurer and sacristan.

Br. Bussen had a special devotion to the Blessed Mother and to the Eucharist. He faithfully prayed for family members and fellow Jesuits and sent birthday letters to many of them. In 2003, Br. Bussen moved to the Fusz Pavilion in St. Louis where he delighted in the good care he received and continued praying for the Church and the Society of Jesus.