Obituary of Myrna JoAnne Busch

Myrna Jo Anne (Browning) Busch, 84, of Caldwell, ID, passed away on April 17, 2023 at home of natural causes.

Jo Anne (Jan) was born on June 25, 1938 to Arthur M. and Esther (Sams) Browning in Caldwell, ID. During WWII her father Art worked in essential mining. They lived at Yellowpine, Cinnabar, New Centerville and on the Yankee Fork. In 1952 the family returned to their farm West of Caldwell, ID on Homedale Road near Huston, Idaho. Jo Anne graduated from Caldwell High School in 1956 and attended Link’s Business School. An extensive career followed as a secretary until her retirement 40 years later. On December 6, 1958 Jo Anne married Larry L. Busch of Lost Nation, Iowa at the Deer Flat Free Methodist Church, near Caldwell, ID. Their son David Alan was born on December 9, 1962. Jo Anne is survived by her sister Joy (Stan) Kidwell, two nephews, Mike (Leighan) Smith, and Scott Kidwell, two nieces, Brenda (Daniel) Westbury, and Amy Kidwell and her chosen daughter Pam Kramer. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jenny (John) Fidanza, Josh (Alishia) Jolley, Rick (Marnee) Watts, Russell (Natalie) Watts, Herb (Amber) O’Brien, numerous great and great-great grandchildren and many others who call her “Grandma Jo Anne”.  She was preceded in death by her husband Larry, Infant son Darrell Lee, son David Alan, her parents Art and Sue Browning and sister Shirlee Smith.

 A memorial service will be held at the Deer Flat Free Methodist Church (17107 Beet Rd., Caldwell, ID) on June 2, 2023 at 10:30 AM. Jo Anne’s wishes were to have her ashes be returned to Yankee Fork which is a place she dearly loved and where her father, Art Browning, help founded Yankee Fork Gold Dredge Association in 1980, and served as president of the association. She spent 43 years volunteering her services by honoring, remembering and sharing the great history and stories of the years she and her family lived and worked the area. She dedicated her life to her family, church and keeping the history of the Yankee Fork Gold Years alive.

Jo Anne was involved in countless charities. She requested memorials be made to the Deer Flat Free Methodist Church, Canyon County Animal Shelter or her favorite charity Idaho Black Bear Rehab which is ran by her niece Amy Kidwell.