Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Obituary 1967

Brown County Democrat
December 21, 1967



TEXT:

Deaths

Anthony Buchta

     Anthony Buchta, Nashville, passed away yesterday at 6:00 p.m. at the Bartholomew County hospital of a cerebral hemorrhage.
     Mr. Buchta had an attack Monday and was several hours before he could get to his telephone. When he did, he called Mr. Bill Hoffman who, on advise of Dr. Robert Seibel took him to the Bartholomew County hospital in Columbus.
     Born June 13, 1896 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mr. Buchta was 71 years of age at death.
     He was an artist and a member of the Pallette and Chisel Club of Chicago, and a member of the Joliet Art League, as well as a member of the Brown County Art Guild and Associate member of the Brown County Art Gallery.
     He attended the St. Agnes Catholic Church in Nashville.
     His only survivors are a sister-in-law, Pauline Buchta, and a nephew, John, both of Route 1, Knox, Indiana. There are some cousins in Iowa.
     Funeral will be at the Harry Price Funeral Home, Knox, Indiana and interment in the Crown Hill Cemetery there.

What I know...

Anthony Buchta was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on June 13, 1896. Both of parents were immigrants from Bohemia (Czechoslovakia.) He was also an artist, who became well known as part of the Brown County (Indiana) Art Guild. I am lucky enough to have inherited many of this paintings from my grandmother who was his cousin.

Anthony (Tony) Buchta was also a "hunchback." His draft card only list a "deformity" as excluding him from active service. He also designed airplanes during WWII. My father remembers walking with him on a visit to Chicago. My father was just a boy and to him Tony seemed "his size" because he was unable to stand tall. He remembers him as kindly and patient to a young boy's inquiries.

Many years later, beautiful landscape and watercolor painting and etchings became part of my grandmother's home. I used to imagine that I was part of the intricate details of the scene.