Robert Charles “Bob” Bussing, 89, of Wolcottville, IN, formerly of Coldwater, MI passed away peacefully Friday, December 5, 2025 at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN.
The family is inviting friends to celebrate Bob’s life with a time of fellowship and food Wednesday, December 17, 2025 from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church fellowship hall, 405 Saint Joseph Street, Union City, Michigan.
Private interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Girard Township, Michigan.
Bob was born September 16, 1936 to Herbert and Josephine (Rakestraw) Bussing in Ovid Township, Michigan and graduated from Quincy High School in 1954. Later that same year, Bob married his high school sweetheart, Shelby Hulbert December 11, 1954.
The couple settled on a farm in Coldwater and milked cows and raised commercial hogs to begin farming on their own. Bob’s grandfather, Charles, was a supportive, loving influence that played an important part in the couple’s early success.
Bob was a great livestock man and loved the purebred hog business. He began with purebred Hampshires to supplement the dairy operation, then switched to Durocs and a few Berkshires in the late 1960s. It was with the Durocs that he found his most success, winning championships at all the major Duroc events throughout the US, the National Barrow Show, the Louisville Livestock Show and many state fairs.
In the 1970s and 1980s he was regarded as one of the top producers of Duroc genetics in the US. The Bussings sold hogs to producers in 37 states and 9 foreign countries. Bob was most proud that his breeding stock performed for his customers and that they were satisfied.
Bob was one of the best hog caretakers in the business and his operations were always in top notch condition. He was fortunate to have a number of talented young men work for him over the years that owe part of their success to learning stockmanship under Bob’s direction.
After 33 years of farming, Bob and Shelby decided to move off the farm. They held three dispersal sales that shattered sales records in the Duroc breed. But old habits die hard and he maintained a few Duroc sows and hit the show circuit for a few more years before finally hanging it up. Bob and Shelby also bought and meticulously renovated several homes in southern Indiana and Branson, MO.
Bob had leadership roles in Michigan Pork Producers, Michigan Duroc Association, and the National Duroc Association. In his free time, which wasn’t often until retirement, Bob and Shelby attended Bluegrass music shows, camped with their motorhome, and fished in nearby lakes. (Shelby was the better fisherman).
Bob is survived by his daughter, Brenda (Pete) Petersen of Ames, IA; his granddaughters Kelly (Casey) Baldwin of Perry, IA and Amy (Will) Hartnett of Telluride, CO; his great-grandchildren, Reagan, Declan, and Tenley Baldwin, Vivian, and Maeve Hartnett; a niece Janice (Vern) AcMoody, Union City, MI.; his sister Judy (Dave) Jones, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Shelby, his son, Robert Bussing II; his brother, Jerry Bussing, and sister-in-law, Lisa Bussing; his father; his mother, Josephine Coolidge and his stepfather, Ward Coolidge.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to The Branch County 4-H Foundation, 570 Marshall Road, Suite C, Coldwater, MI 49036. Please put “Robert Bussing” on the memo line of your check.
The family is being served by Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City, MI.
Please visit www.lighthousefuneral.com to share memories, pictures, or videos with the family.
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