Paul Michael Busch, 25

Paul Michael Busch “entered heaven” on Aug. 27, 2011, due to an accidental drowning.

Paul was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Dec. 31, 1985.

Paul was a gifted athlete, a philosopher, and well-loved brother, son and friend. He was an excellent fly fisherman, hiker, climber and skier. If it was a physical activity, Paul excelled in it. “Loved by everyone in the universe,” he certainly loved life and lived it to the fullest every day.

He was a graduate of Pleasant Hill High School, where he excelled in sports, was active in student council, and had a crew of true friends. He had a pixie-ish sense of humor and loved pranks, but was never unkind to anyone. 

Paul was a student at Montana State University and had planned to attend fire academy after completing his degree. He was devoted and loving to his parents, sisters and friends. He will be missed beyond measure.

He came to Montana as an AmeriCorps volunteer and stayed on with the Forest Service as a wilderness ranger which allowed him to tromp through the forest every day with his buddy Kyle and his amazing dog Fred. Paul was very much a lover of nature, both the micro and macro view. He appreciated the commonality of natural elements, but perhaps more so, the diversity of nature which makes all things unique. He loved the rocks, the trees, the rippling streams and cloud-dotted blue sky. He was also aware of the underlying force surrounding and uniting those elements.

“Whether it be Montana, Missouri, the Mission Mountains, or anywhere on earth, his spirit has been released to join in that force. We cannot understand it, but Paul's spirit/soul is now a part of it. If you would like to see what Paul sees, go to a mountain top. If you would like to hear what Paul hears, listen to the wind in the trees or the gentle ripple of a mountain stream. If you would like to feel what Paul feels, dip your hand into a cool mountain stream, for this is heaven to Paul.”

 He is survived by his parents, Steve and Anne Busch; his sisters, Sadie Geppert and Kerry McGhee; his brothers-in-law, Dan and Blake, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends from everywhere he went. He also leaves behind his dog, Fred.

There will be a gathering to celebrate Paul's life at 7 p.m. today, Sept. 1, at the Thomson’s home in Kalispell. Please contact Devon Thomson at (406) 270-1936 for information about attendance.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, http://www.bmwf.org/; or the Wilderness Society http://wilderness.org

Garden City Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.