Auswell "Bud" Stauffer 1938-2026
Auswell “Bud” Fisher Stauffer Jr., 87, of Mayetta, passed away Saturday, April 18, 2026, at his home, surrounded by family.
He was born July 6, 1938, near Holton, the son of Auswell and Vinita (Linsacum) Stauffer. Bud attended Pleasant Valley elementary school and Circleville Rural High School.
Bud married Shirley Ann Bontrager on Dec. 31, 1961. They enjoyed 60 years of love and companionship.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1961 to 1963. Bud owned and operated his own agricultural salvage business his entire adult life. He worked at Henry Manufacturing/ Allis Chalmers in Topeka for 13 years. He was the bus mechanic for USD 337 Royal Valley schools for 21 years. Bud served as a volunteer firefighter for the Mayetta Volunteer Fire Department for 46 years and was Fire Chief for 14 of those years.
Bud was an active member of Mayetta Methodist Church.
He enjoyed watching westerns and rodeos, puzzles, antiques shopping with his family and restoring pedal tractors. Bud’s greatest joy was playing with grandchildren and great-grandchildren and watching them grow up.
Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley; his parents, Auswell and Vinita; and his sister-in-law, Louise (Russell).
Survivors include four sons, Bryan Stauffer (Cindy) of Stanwood, Wash., Kevin Stauffer (Laura) of Holton, Jeffrey Stauffer (Melissa) of Silver Lake and Todd Stauffer (Rosetta) of Mayetta; 11 grandchildren, Rachel Whitten (Joe) of Eudora, Clayton Stauffer (Carolina) of Midland, Texas, Laura Kinney (Chris) of Bellevue, Wash., Julia Noreika (Michael) of New London, N.H., Adam Stauffer (Laura) of Topeka, Kenley Carpenter (Bryce) of Holton, Ellie Klepees (Dillon) of Holton, Aidan and Brenna McDonald-Stauffer of Silver Lake, Gary Stauffer (Andrea) of Topeka and Tim Stauffer of Atchison; 20 great-grandchildren; a great-great-granddaughter; two brothers, Russell of Sabetha and Brad (Judy) of Holton; and a sister, Sharon (Jim) Goldsworthy of Germantown, Tenn.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 23 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial with military honors will follow at Mayetta Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Bud will lie in state from noon to 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Memorials may be given to Mayetta Methodist Church or Mayetta Fire Department, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
