Obituaries

Mark A Buettner

September 5, 1941 - August 30, 2021

DR. MARK ANTHONY BUETTNER

It is with profound sadness and an abundance of love that we mourn the passing of our husband, father, papa, brother, uncle and friend. Mark passed away peacefully on Monday, August 30, 2021, with family by his side.

Mark was born in Humboldt, SK, on September 5, 1941. Mourning his loss are his wife Joy and their four children, Cindy (Rob), Kerry, Dan (Leah), and Brian (Eun Hee); grandchildren, Isabella, Hanna, Alyssa, Maren, Ben, Kayden and Raya; brothers, Vern (Marion), Eugene (Evy), and Dave (Ann); sisters-in-law, Maureen Mahon, Evelyn, Fay, Janet, and Darlene, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his loving parents Albert Sr. and Mary; brothers, Len, Norbert, Alvin, Miles, Albert Jr.; sister-in-law, Marion, and extended family members from Saskatchewan.

Mark was the 7th of 9 boys, raised in St. James, SK, where the Buettner family farmed. He completed his high school in Muenster at St. Peter’s College in 1959. He followed some of his brothers in the early 60s working for Sask Power and saving for his future university education. Mark attended the U of S in Saskatoon where he obtained his pre dental science qualifications in 1966. He moved to Winnipeg where he had been accepted to the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Dentistry. It is here that he met the love of his life, Joy. Mark received a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the U of M in 1970.

Upon graduation, he received 7 clinical awards and the Xi Psi Phi Gold Key for the highest standing in all four years of dentistry. Upon passing the National Dental Examining Board exams and the American Dental Association Board exams, he accepted a position in the thriving pulp and paper community of Ocean Falls, BC, occasionally flying to Bella Bella, BC to offer dental care in that community. Mark and Joy made many dear friends in Ocean Falls and remained very close with them over the years.

They returned to Winnipeg in 1972. He established a practice in Tuxedo and concluded his dental career with the Tuxedo Dental Group, along with his loyal and dedicated staff that were like family to him. His Phase II dental assistant, Joanne, was with him for 30 years and was like his right hand. Their chairside chatter and jokes provided endless entertainment for their patients over the years.

Mark was a part time Clinical Instructor for the Faculty of Dentistry at the U of M, where he was an inspirational and devoted mentor to many dental students for 43 years. He served on the National Dental Examining Board of Canada from 1995 – 2000. He was a member of the Canadian Dental Association, the Manitoba Dental Association, of which it was Mark’s honour to serve his profession as President from 1994-1995, the Winnipeg Dental Society, of which he became a lifetime member, and was an affiliate of the American Dental Association. During his career, he was honoured to become a Fellow of The International College of Dentists and a Fellow of The Pierre Fauchard Academy.
Our mother’s unwavering and selfless devotion, love and support for our father made it possible for our dad to successfully practice dentistry for over 50 years and accomplish everything he wanted to. He was a wonderful husband and father, and the love and pride he had for his wife, children and grandchildren was endless and abundant. He faithfully phoned mom every weekday at noon.

Dr. B, as everyone referred to him, will be fondly remembered by colleagues, patients and friends as a humble man with a dry, but punchy sense of humour, and a huge heart. He loved a great joke and told some doozies himself. Be it on the golf course, in his office, or at a dinner party, his jokes and baritone laughter that followed were enjoyed by all.
By his wife, and four children, he will be remembered as a loving husband and father who looked forward to sitting around the dinner table for a family meal, laughing and joking with us, teaching us, and challenging us.

Dad loved a good old fashioned, cross country, family road trip, and with four children, the adventures were epic! He traveled the world with our mom and spent quality time in Palm Desert with family and close friends, including David, whom he enjoyed hiking with immensely.

He cherished time at our Victoria Beach family cottage where many memories were made. An avid photographer, he was always excited to catch the beautiful sunsets over the water, then head over to the Moonlight Inn for ice-cream. Whether at VB or his treasured back yard pool where his family gathered for years and grandchildren learned to swim, we are truly grateful for the candid and touching moments he captured. Thankfully, his two boys inherited his photography gene, allowing for some memorable, father-son worldly adventures.

Many of his patients will recall the ceiling tiles above the dental chair where he displayed a variety of his sunset, wildlife, or landscape shots. Being raised on the farm, he enjoyed capturing pictures of grain elevators, old barns and farm implements. He certainly took some publish worthy photos. He was most proud of the photos of his children and grandchildren that he always had on display.

Dad was athletic his whole life. He played baseball and hockey as a child, football for the U of M Faculty of Dentistry football team and curled in his early years in Winnipeg. He loved to golf, canoe, fish and enjoyed both cross country and downhill skiing with all four children. He taught all of us how to play tennis and was competitive on the squash circuit, which he took up as a long-time member of the former Carlton Club. Dad was a huge Winnipeg Jets and Blue Bombers fan, and we all remember calling “dibs” on who got to go to the games with him.

Our family would like to acknowledge Drs. Joel Gingerich and Kevin Coates for their exceptional care and genuine respect for which we extend our heartfelt appreciation.

Many friends and colleagues have already donated blood to Canadian Blood Services in Mark’s memory, as it was transfusions that allowed Mark to have more quality time with his family. Others may choose a donation to a charity of their choice.

Dad, we know your spirit will guide us and your memory will always be with us. We will love you forever and we promise we will look after mom. In time, we will all be “two thumbs up”, as you always used to say.

As a man of great faith, he has been laid to rest in the Garden of the Good Shepherd, Chapel Lawn, where a private family graveside service has taken place. A Celebration of Life announcement will be published in the obituary section of the Winnipeg Free Press once the uncertainty over Covid protocols subside.