- Date Of Birth: June 7, 1941
- Date Of Death: August 27, 2021
- City: Phoenix
- State: Arizona
JAN S. BUSSELL, age 80; a longtime resident of Palm Beach County living in Okeechobee, FL, passed away peacefully on the evening of August 27, 2021. Jan was born in Phoenix, AZ to Carey and Irene Bussell and spent his early childhood years in Prescott, AZ prior to the family moving to Arkansas. In 1958 they moved again to settle in North Palm Beach where Jan attended Palm Beach High School and graduated with the Class of 1959. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at Florida State University.
Early in his career, Jan taught Industrial Arts at Jupiter High School. His fascination with flying prompted Jan to get his pilot’s license; he was a member of the Civil Air Patrol. Jan purchased his first (co-op) airplane in 1967. In 1976 he became a flight instructor and subsequently a Professor and Administrator at Palm Beach Community College (now Palm Beach State College). While at PBSC, Jan was instrumental in establishing their aeronautics program, flight school, and nursing program. Jan retired from PBSC as the Dean of Vocational Education in June of 1998.
A lifelong educator, his love of flying nearly rivaled his love of teaching so upon his retirement he began building an RV-6A airplane that took over 4 years to complete and later built an RV-6; he used both for training pilots. Jan logged over 7,000 hours in more than 30 different types of aircraft and was also the President of the River Acres Airport FD70 in Okeechobee.
Jan married Joyce Green (Bussell) in March of 1987. They met at church and shared a love of travel, camping, and helping others. They resided in Juno, FL, and later moved to Okeechobee (River Acres); they also have a second home in Dandridge, TN where they would spend several months each year. When not flying, Jan also enjoyed building, reading, boating, and spending time with his family or enjoying Mexican Food at a favorite restaurant. Jan was an exceptional son, husband, brother, and father.
He touched the lives of so many people; loved sharing his knowledge (teaching) of construction; mechanics and aeronautics with his great sense of humor ever-present. Jan was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Kim S. Bussell.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Green Bussell; brother Joe Bussell; sister, Kathryn Reiter; sister-in-law, Carol Huber Bussell; children, Tim Bussell, Janet Bussell-Eriksson (son-in-law Dan Eriksson) Janene Bussell, and their mother Billie Mayer Casale along with nieces/nephews and great-nieces/nephews.
