John Buresh

John R. Buresh, 90, concluded his journey on Earth on December 28, 2024 where he passed away in peace at Touchmark Senior Living Community alongside family members. Mass of Christian burial will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, January 9 at St. Cecilia's Church, 503 1st St SW, Towner. Visitation will be held one hour prior.

John was born the third child of six in rural Manning, North Dakota on April 14, 1934. He started his education in a one-room country school, followed by attending a Catholic elementary boarding school in New Hradec, North Dakota, and Killdeer High School in Killdeer, North Dakota. Later John attended Dickinson State College and the University of North Dakota earning a teaching degree and a Master of Education in administration, respectively. John played football for Dickinson State College, and was inducted into the College’s Football Hall of Fame in 1999.

After teaching in a one-room school house alongside the Killdeer Mountains for two years, John married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Elaine (Schmalz). They remained married, until Elaine’s passing, for 71 wonderful years. John also taught school at Killdeer High School before moving to Towner, North Dakota in 1960 where he and Elaine raised a family of six children.

He was employed at Towner Public School and was the elementary principal and junior high school English teacher for 36 years where he retired. One of his proudest career moments was when the elementary school in Towner was named after him, and is still known as the John R. Buresh Elementary School. He truly loved his career and his time at the school. He had a genuine adoration for his students and delighted in watching their successes. He admired his fellow teachers and administrators, loved public education, and possessed a sincere fondness for the community and people of Towner. Although he and Elaine moved to Bismarck in 2019, John continued to speak with appreciation of his time in Towner on a daily basis.

John loved wildlife and the outdoors. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and set up numerous wildlife feeders to get a closer look at the animals. He harvested his last archery deer at the age of 89, and caught his last fish in Canada at 90. He spearheaded the wildlife feeder at the Touchmark Senior Community that exists today and feeds deer, turkeys, pheasants, mallards, and countless song bird species. He was a ND Hunter Safety instructor for nearly 40 years. John was an active member in the North Dakota Mule Deer Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, the Benevolent Order of the Elks, and the Fraternal Order of the Eagles. He also enjoyed planting trees, and was often seen carrying saplings to plant for habitat creation. He liked making sausage, loved watching Cornhusker football, and especially cherished the time he was able to spend with his 11 grandchildren.

John is survived by five children, Shelley B. Tofte, Lori (Mark) Jahraus, John (Laurie) Buresh, Jeff (Tammy) Buresh, and Dan Buresh; one brother Bernard (Dorothy) and one sister Margaret (Don) Heiser; eleven grandchildren, Eric (Kelly) Tofte, Emily (Jared) Nestaval, Ellery (Chad) Lystad, Tim (Brittany) Jahraus, Elizabeth (Shane) DePinto, Paul (Angela) Jahraus, Alex (Heather) Buresh, Anna Buresh, Davis Buresh, Alia Buresh, and Fred Buresh; and thirteen great-grandchildren, Estella Tofte, Evan Tofte, Brody Tofte, Brecken Tofte, Eddie Nestaval, Eva Nestaval, Everett Lystad, Blair DePinto, Luke Jahraus, Lillian Jahraus, Jack Buresh, Gordon Buresh, and Liam Buresh-Strehlo; and numerous nephews and nieces.

John was preceded in death by wife Elaine; daughter Joni; parents Frank and Rose (Steffan) Buresh; brothers Robert Buresh and Albert Buresh; and sister Darlene (Roger) Andres.