Reuben Harvey (Bud) Seitner, Jr.

Reuben Harvey (Bud) Seitner, Jr., age 86, of Mt. Carroll, IL, died April 13, 2009, at Good Samaritan Center, Mt. Carroll. A Memorial Service and Celebration of Life will be held 1:00 P.M. Saturday, April 18, 2009, at the First Baptist Church, Mt. Carroll with Reverend Jim Green and Reverend Bob Ziebarth officiating.Reuben (Bud) was born in Morris, IL, on Dec. 21, 1922, the son of Rev. Reuben H. and Ruth (Hanson) Seitner. The family moved to Mt. Carroll in 1926 when Reuben Sr. became the pastor at First Baptist Church. Bud graduated from Mt. Carroll High School in 1940 where he was active in music, football, and basketball. He attended West Point before attending Coe College. His education at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, IA, was interrupted by WWII where he served as a tank driver in Company B, 753rd Tank Battalion, 36th Infantry Division, U.S. Seventh Army. Bud was wounded twice and received two purple hearts and the bronze star for valor. He began the war as a private and finished it as a 2nd lieutenant. After the war, Bud returned to Coe where he was active in Student Affairs and President of the Student Body. He finished his education at Coe College where he met and married Kathryn Loomis on Jan. 31, 1947. The couple moved to Mt. Carroll upon college graduation where Bud's career included being an agent for Equitable Life Insurance, teaching and working for Shimer College, and eventually owning and operating Seitner Chevrolet, Buick, and Pontiac. In addition he worked at Campbell Center, was on the Mt. Carroll Cemetery Board and the Foster Court Board of Directors.Music was an important part of both Bud and Katie's lives. Bud directed the 7 Last Words, Messiah, choirs at First Baptist Church, Lutheran Church, and Methodist Church. He was dedicated to Katie's musical performances where he could be found back stage "holding her purse." Bud (Papa) enjoyed music, his yard, his pipe, and his dogs--always Cocker Spaniels. He proudly supported and followed the athletic careers of his grandchildren wherever they played.Bud was a 63 year member of the American Legion and a life long member of the First Baptist Church serving on various church boards.Bud was preceded in death by his parents and wife Kathryn. Bud will be dearly missed by daughters, Sarah (James) Wheeler, Susie (Davis) Ostrum; four grandchildren, Stephanie (Brian) Wurster, Mary Kathryn (Joe) Hansen, Clayton Ostrum, Colton Ostrum; 3 great-grandchildren, Andy and Emily Wurster, and Reuben (Ben) Hansen; one sister, Elizabeth (Betty) Phillips of Silver Springs, Maryland; and several nieces and nephews.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Bud's honor to First Baptist Church of Mt. Carroll and Good Samaritan Center.