Date of Death: July, 08 2016

            Catherine “Cathy” Ruth Land, compassionate caregiver, follower of Christ, creator of picture perfect gardens, master of the kitchen, and possessor of the world’s most contagious smile passed away Friday, July 8th 2016 at her home (surrounded by her family) after a year and half long battle with cancer.
 
            Cathy was born in Escanaba on January 25, 1953 to the late Leo and Irma (Bradway) Buchcuski and raised in Powers, Michigan in the house that her great-uncle homesteaded after immigrating from Poland. In August of 1975 she married her high school sweetheart Jeff, and soon thereafter they purchased the house, remodeled the heck out of it and raised their children (Jesse and Jamie) there. That house and beautiful yard would become Cathy’s sanctuary for years to come.
 
            Cathy was the sort of wife and mother every family should be so lucky to have. She was compassionate, kind, patient and funny. She had a way of making each person she spoke with feel like the most important person in the world. Her husband, children, grandchildren (and a multitude of friends and family) absolutely adored her. Cathy treasured being a grandmother. Her grandkids spent much time at “Grandma and Grandpa Land’s house” and always had a blast with their super cool grandparents.
 
            Cathy loved to spend time at home, cooking, gardening and crafting. She was a certified master gardener and created dozens of photo worthy flower gardens, for her own yard but also for family, friends and her church. Many times visitors commented that her gardens were so beautiful they should be featured in a magazine (and they were right), but she didn’t want the attention. She just loved to make things beautiful, and she excelled at it. Everything she touched flourished.
 
            In the colder months Cathy kept her hands busy with other endeavors. She was an avid cook and made whipping up a complete home cooked meal every day look easy, (her children would later discover the hard truth -- not so easy.) Cathy also loved to shop with friends, and especially loved buying gifts for others. When something caught her eye, she always asked “Who can we buy this for?”

            In addition to cooking and constantly experimenting with new recipes, in her early life she was interested in macramé, then came ceramics, and then later on came jewelry and card making. Cathy always gave away most of what she made to family and friends and she loved doing it. Cathy also loved decorating for the holidays. For Halloween the Land home was decorated inside and out, and for Christmas she made her home a downright spectacle of light and love. People would often drive through the yard around Christmas time to admire Cathy’s work. Heck, she even put up an “Easter tree” around Easter for many years.
            Cathy and her husband Jeff traveled extensively; visiting most of the lower 48 states, Alaska, Europe, and in 2011 completed a beautiful three week motorcycle tour of New Zealand. She was an active member of the Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Powers, where she created and then helped maintain the flower gardens. She also helped with the annual church chili feed, in addition to attending church regularly. She was at the side of many friends and family as they battled their own hardships, freely giving her time, love and compassion. Whether she was driving a friend to cancer treatment, providing a home cooked meal, or spending time with someone in need, Cathy could always be counted on.

            She will be deeply, deeply missed by her family and friends.
 
            She is preceded in death by her parents Leo and Irma Buchcuski, her brother John Bradway, her nephew Lance Paronto and her dear friend Bobbi Nichols.

            She is survived by her adoring husband of 41 years, Jeff, daughter Jamie (Adam) Smith, son Jesse (Erica) Land, brothers Bill (Candy) Buchcuski, Thomas Buczkowski (Ana De la Pava), Lenoard Buczcowski, sister Diane (Paul) Perkins, brother and sister in law Cal and Joyce Land, sister in law Nancy Buchcuski, and grandchildren Alex Wheeler, Miles Slingsby, Norah Land, Violet Land and Jagger Smith, nieces Amy (Vincent) Graham, Stacy (Jason) Heim, Carlye Buchcuski, Delonna Reed and nephews Scott (Megan) Land, Adam (Sarah) Buchcuski and Brent (Krista) Buchcuski.
 
            Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (CST) on Friday July 22, 2016 at the Allo Coolman Funeral Home in Spalding. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. (CST) on Friday at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Powers with Pastor Ronald Zindler officiating. A gathering will follow services at Cathy and Jeff Land's home to continue in the celebrating of Cathy's life. Burial will take place in the Spalding Township Cemetery.

            The family has established a memorial fund in Cathy’s honor to help local cancer victims in need and requests that any donations be directed to the Cathy Land Memorial Fund set up at Integra First Federal Credit Union. W3803 Highway 2 & 41, Powers, MI 49874 - (906) 497-5229.
 
            Please visit www.allofh.com to send online condolences to her family.