Sandra Louise Busch

Sandra Louise Mavis Busch of Traverse City passed away peacefully on September 12, 2026 at the age of 85.

She was born May 16, 1941, in Detroit to Richard and Louise Mavis and grew up in Birmingham, Michigan, attending Birmingham High School. She went on to attend the University of Michigan, earning a BA and MS. She was a member of Collegiate Sorosis Sorority. While there, she met David Busch and they were married June 6, 1964.

Sandra and Dave first settled in Saginaw, Michigan. They had two sons, Stephen and Thomas, and a daughter, Kathleen. The family spent a number of years in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Sandra was involved in raising her kids, becoming a Cub Scout Den Mother and a Girl Scout Troop Leader. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority. She was named Fort Wayne City Council Beta Sigma Phi Woman of the Year in 1983 for her service work. She also worked part-time as a substitute schoolteacher.

In 1986 the family moved to Traverse City, Michigan. Sandra continued with Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and was also involved in the St. Joseph Church and the Old Mission Women’s Club. She became involved in the Traverse City Commission on Aging, serving as a voluntary board member. She also worked part-time at a gift store and at a yarn store downtown.

Sandra enjoyed reading, knitting, and traveling. She went with Dave on several of his scuba diving trips and went on several University of Michigan Alumni Tour trips.

Sandra is survived by her husband David Busch of Traverse City, her brother Richard Mavis of Traverse City, her son Stephen Busch of Plymouth Michigan, her son Thomas Busch of Lititz Pennsylvania, and her daughter Kathleen Thompson of Winston-Salem North Carolina. She also has 5 grandchildren, Allison, Carolyn, Derek, Trevor, and Zoey.

A Catholic Funeral Service for Sandra will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 25, 2026, at Saint Joseph Catholic Church on Old Mission Peninsula, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will take place following at the church cemetery, with a luncheon following.