"To unpathed waters, undreamed shores"
William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale

Michael Buse charted his course and sailed straight into Heaven on September 1, 2014. He was born in Everett on November 14, 1947, the eldest of the seven children of Norman Martin and Antoinette Kimpe Buse. The family maintained homes in Everett and at Warm Beach.

He was educated in Everett schools until high school when he enrolled in Portland's Concordia Lutheran High School. He graduated from the U of W in 1970 with a degree in medieval history. He was a proud member of the Husky Crew. It was at the crew house that he received the nickname "Boss." A four year letterman, he served as Commodore of the Varsity Boat Club his senior year and won the Pigott Inspirational Award.

He met Penny Hutchison, his childhood sweetheart, "the love of his life," at Warm Beach. They married on June 20, 1970, and recently celebrated their forty-fourth anniversary at their home in Warm Beach.

Mike loved his William Garden designed 30' vintage wooden tugboat, Maggie B, and took great pleasure from racing her each year at Seattle and Olympia. He won the "World Championship" (small class) in 1985, 1989, 1991, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2011, and 2012. The family enjoyed many summer cruises in Maggie B up into northern British Columbia and as far as Alaska. He served as general manager of his family's sawmill. He built Liberty Lumber Mill and established Portage Creek Railroad. He constructed a sawmill for Fast Forest, a Russian-American partnership, in the far east Russia, north of Vladivostok. He consulted for a number of wood manufacturing companies.

Mike was a wonderful father, a devoted husband, an avid reader, a football fan, and an experienced traveler. He collected maritime antiques and antique tools. He was an accomplished artist working in wood and metal art. He built the family home at Warm Beach.

He loved beaches, beach combing, fishing, clamming and crabbing. He was a member of the Stanwood Area Historical Society, the Retired Tugboat Association, University of Washington Alumni Association, The Big W Club, and the Warm Beach Lawnmower Drill Team.

He served on the board of directors and as President of the Stanwood Area Historical Society. He chaired the Stanwood Fourth of July Celebration for many years. He was honored as Stanwood's man of the Year in 2002.

He was predeceased by his grandparents, parents, and sister, Dona. Mike is survived by his wife, Margaret (Penny) Hutchison Buse, son Michael James "Tug" (Celia), grandson Willy G.; brothers Jon (Vonda), and Gary (GayeAnn); sisters Kathy (Dennis) Bright, Lori Husby, and Debbie Buse; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law Marya and Tim Groseclose and Jennifer and Jerry Kelly…and, of course, Jim, the family cat.

Memorials may be made in Mike's name to the Stanwood Area Historical Society at P.O. Box 69, Stanwood, WA 98292; the Mike and Penny Buse Scholarship at the Stanwood Camano Area Foundation, P.O. Box 1209, Stanwood, WA 98292 or the University of Washington Crew Program at Husky Crew Fund, Tyee Office, P.O. Box 354070, Seattle WA 98195-4070.

A celebration of Mike's life will be held on Sunday afternoon, September 28, at 3:00pm at the Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center at 27130 – 102nd Avenue N.W., Stanwood.

Arrangements under the direction of Gilbertson Funeral Home, Stanwood, WA.