Travis Bouska
April 7, 1984 ~ June 19, 2020
Travis Francis Bouska age 36 of Iowa City, Iowa, formerly of New Hampton, died Friday, June 19, 2020, at his home.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass. Interment will be in St. Mary's Cemetery, New Hampton.
Friends may greet the family 3:00 - 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton where there will be a 7:00 p.m. parish scripture service. Visitation continues an hour prior to the Mass at the church on Wednesday.
Travis was born April 7, 1984, in New Hampton. He was the “middle child” among the three sons born to Gary and Sue (Rosonke) Bouska, and even at a young age, he was the kind of guy you didn’t forget meeting.
He attended school in New Hampton, and early in his life, he found his passion. It was music. He eventually began singing at Masses, funerals, weddings and other gatherings, but then again, Travis was one of those kids who could sing along to any song on the radio. He loved being in the plays and musicals — both in middle school and high school — and one of his favorite roles was when he played the Tin Man in New Hampton High School’s “Wizard of Oz.”
Travis was a member of the Class of 2002, and after graduating, he attended Hamilton College and earned a degree in criminal justice.
As a high school student, he worked for what is now Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home, first doing yard work and other odd jobs. It was at the funeral home that he found his true calling because Travis, at his core, was a kind, compassionate young man who helped numerous families through very trying times after graduating with a mortuary science degree from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in suburban Chicago.
He worked at funeral homes in New Hampton, Parkersburg and Iowa City — with a short stint at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. He was the kind of funeral director who had that knack of knowing just what a family was going through after the death of a loved one. He could celebrate a long, well-lived life with a family one day and help another family through an unexpected and tragic death the next.
As an adult, he loved to sing, and he did a lot of karaoke. He loved his family and friends, and he was a great uncle to his nephew and niece, and he was a joy to have at family gatherings. The Bouskas and Rosonkes will tell you that Travis had a great sense of humor, a quick wit and the ability to come up with great one-liners and funny, quick comebacks in a moment’s notice.
The world was a better place with Travis in it. His cheerful outlook on life and his compassion for his family, friends and the families he served will be greatly missed.
Survivors include his parents, Gary and Sue Bouska; his grandmother, LaVonne Rosonke; brothers, Jeremy (Danielle Tiemessen) Bouska and son Alex, Kyle (Jocelyn) Bouska and daughter, McKaia, all of New Hampton; aunts; Sandy (Ken) Long of Rochester, MN, Jean (Ron) Franzen of Ft. Atkinson, Ann (John) Wunder of Muscatine, Denise (Jim) Ryant of Ridgeway; uncles, Tom (Paula) Rosonke, Dan (Karen) Rosonke, Joe (Jean) Rosonke, all of New Hampton, Duane (Marilyn) Franzen of Denver, IA, Alan (Jan) Bouska of Mason City, David (Sue) Bouska of Cedar Rapids, Paul (Amy) Bouska of Iowa City; many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Cliff and Arlene Bouska; maternal grandfather, Francis Rosonke; aunt, Joan Franzen and cousin, Blake Rosonke.
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I remember how Travis sang at our wedding – he was a 2nd grader! I remembe babysitting the boys in the summer! Hugs and prayers to all of you and may you remember the good times and his wonderful smile! Julie (Rosonke) Juhl
I am so sorry to hear this. May his memories be in your thoughts. All our prayers to his family. Jeanne and David Roder
We are so sorry for your loss. May God bless him and your family
Gary, Sue and Family – I am so sorry for the loss of Travis. I fondly remember him as a cute five-year-old, when he was ring bearer for Steve’s and my wedding. My mom and dad used to tell me what a beautiful voice he had when they heard him sing. May your memories comfort you and I want to extend my deepest sympathy. Ann
I am so sorry to hear this. My sympathy and prayers arr with the family
I am so sorry for your loss. Travis always made workout more fun and less painful with his humor and bright personality.
My sincerest condolences in your loss of Travis. Travis was a great friend to me at Worsham College. He had a great sense of humor and always made me laugh. Rest in peace old friend.
I will remember Travis for his great singing voice in high school and at the Church Youth Choir. My sympathy to your whole family. May he rest in peace and may God bless you all. Tom and Rosie Deutsch
Sue, Gary, and Family, It saddens me to hear of Travis passing. He was a wonderful young man that made everyone laugh and he could sing like a pro. He will be dearly missed by many. May God comfort you in your time of loss. Always remember the good time and hold them close in your heart. My sincere deepest sympathy and my prayers are with you all. MaryAnn Diesburg
Oh, I am so very sorry for the family. Travis did have a beautiful voice, a great sense of humor, and was always so very nice to visit with. May your treasured thoughts of Travis remain with you forever.
Sue, Gary and family so sorry to hear of your loss
We are so sorry. We are praying for you during this time. Travis was always so friendly and kind.
I am so sorry other of Travis’s passing. My deepest sympathy goes out to your family.
Our sincere sympathy and prayers to your whole family. We know how much you loved him, may he rest in peace.
I am so sorry for your loss
My heart breaks for your loss. You are in my thoughts through this tough times.
Gary, Sue and family, there are no proper words to say at this time to ease your pain but please know heaven gained a special angel and Travis will be beside you each and everyday from this day forward! You have our deepest sympathy and will be in our thoughts and prayers in the days ahead 🙏
Deepest sympathy to the Bouska family. He was a nice young man.
All our thoughts and prayers to the Bouska family. May his memories fill your mind today. Jeanne and David Roder
I’m so deeply saddened to hear off your loss. Travis was always so fun to have at the New Hampton Public Library-and such a help as a volunteer. Our many thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I love you & miss you!! You said you were gonna draw a smiley face on my toe when I die & you come pick me up.
Sympathy to you ALL! May he Rest in Peace!
With deepest sympathy, our thoughts and prayers are with you all in this very sad time, alan and jan bouska and and family
So, sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you Sue, Gary and family.
Gary, Sue, Jeremy, and Kyle, My sympathy and prayer to all of you. May Travis now rest in peace and may you cherish all of the memories you share in your hearts.
To the entire Bouska & Rosonke families: Travis was such a kind soul. He always said “Hi” to me in the hallways of NHHS. I loved his singing in the musicals and concerts. Prayers to all of you and remember the good times…you have lots of them. Joy
So sorry for the families loss of a great guy. First time we met Travis was for my mothers funeral in Clarksville. He was there for us every step of the way. The singer my mother wanted we couldn’t get ahold of and tried to get others but no luck. Travis said I could sing if you want me too. Oh my gosh what a beautiful choice it was. Will never forget it how great he did. Then one day we ended up doing Words with friends and have been ever since doing it playing our game together and kept in touch with fb. Yesterday I sent him my 4 games and then I found out he was gone. I’m still in shock and very sad!!! Will really miss him! RIP Travis
Gary and Sue, we are so sorry for your loss. Know that you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.
I am so very saddened by the news of Travis’ death. I have so many memories of our shared laughter while we were students at Worsham. I will never forget him or his contagious smile. My sincere condolences to his family.
I was saddened to hear of your loss, really a liss for many. Travis was one of our special library kids. He was anxious to help and fun to be around. I will never forget the day he went into “stealth protective” mode when he thought someone had hurt a staff member. He was a part of one the best library stories. Keep sharing his story with friends and family.
Gary and Sue, Sorry for your Loss sending Love and Prayers to the Bouska and Rosonke Families
We were so sorry to hear of Travis’s death. Though we didn’t have the opportunity to know him for very long, we enjoyed doing music together at church. As many have already said, he was a memorable, kind, and generous fellow. It’s tragic to lose such a wonderful young man. All of his family and friends have our deepest sympathy. Marilyn and Ron Neuerburg and the St. Mary Catholic Church family
I am so sad to hear of Travis’ passing…. I have always admired him from afar….he was such a pleasure…He just made me smile whenever I saw him….treasure his memory…I sure do….
My condolences to you Sue and Gary and family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
So sad and shocked to hear of Travis’ death. He would come in the cleaners when he worked for Hugeback and we would give him a hard time. He always took it because he could dish it out. Heaven gained a good one and we lost a really good guy! Our condolences to you Gary, Sue and boy’s. Deb and Roger Lantzky
Dave and I send our sympathy to all the family for your great loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
So sorry to hear of Travis passing – we will always remember our neighbor boy and offer Sue, Gary and his brothers are condolences. Dave and Kathy Boss
I’ll never forget the wonderful job Travis did singing at our wedding. It was so nice to have someone that I’ve looked up to sing for us. Whenever I think of Grandma and Grandpa’s house, the river, and family gatherings and roller skating, I’ll always remember Travis. He was an amazing cousin. Gary, Sue, Kyle, and Jeremy, my deepest condolences are sent and I’ve been praying for you nonstop! May the Lord Bless You and Keep You, May He Make His Holy Light Shine Upon You, and Bring You Peace.
So so sorry for your loss, words cannot be said how your family must feel right now. He was a great person with a kind heart. Was very lucky to know Travis. The whole family are in our prayers and thoughts. Hug each other and share all the memories. Vic and Diane Ball and family
Our deepest sympathy ,he was a joy to your family and the community. may he be in peace and singing with the angels in heaven. Such a great loss
Thoughts and prayers to you, Gary, Sue and your entire family, in your time of loss.
Gary, Sue, & fam. Hang on to those wonderful memories! Sending our sympathy and thinking of you all . Dennis & Diane Shurtleff
Treasure the memories! Deepest sympathy to Gary, Sue and family. Ken and Shari Rasing
Allen and Rachael Redman
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Travis’s family and friends.Travis was an outstanding EMT and will be missed by so many.
Gary and Sue and family, I am so sorry to read of the loss of your son Travis. Keep your memories close and know that you are in my prayers.
Sorry to here about Travis. I will have him in my prayers. nice young man.
“Travis Bouska” brought so many gifts to our life. We will never forget him! You definitely were the best bestie ever. “LOVES YA!!”
I got to know Travis when he worked at the DCC at the University of Iowa. I was so glad when i ran into him picking up death certificates one day. He had such a great sense of humor and the biggest smile. I am so sorry for your loss, I wish he would have known how many people would miss him. This world is tough for those of us that put our heart on the line everyday for others.
Today and always, May loving memories bring you peace, comfort, and strength. #Family
Deepest condolences.
Travis always had a great big smile on his face and such a kind hello! Hold tight to sweet memories! Many thoughts and prayers to your family! Emily (Boos) Ackerson
I am so sorry for your loss. Travis was kind, humorous, talented, and smart. I remember the fun he had portraying the Tin Man and the enjoyment the community received. Travis was also sincere and caring. May God bless him and your grieving family. He will be missed by all those who knew him. Chuck Carlin
We are so sorry to here of Travis’s passing, our hearts go out to the family. We will keep him in our prayers. God bless. Kendall Rosauer
All my prayers and hopes to the Family of Travis. I did not know Travis as well as his brothers, but the times I had to interact with Travis he was kind, courteous, and full of the life we all need. He was a bright light, and our world will be darker without him.
So sorry for your loss. I remember Travis singing karaoke- what a beautiful voice. He will be singing with the angels in Heaven now. Prayers for the family and friends.
I am sorry for your loss😔😪. I did not know Travis. I just heard positive things and the amazing person he was🤲. I knew Jermey and if he was anything like Jermey. Big heart and very nice person. The type we need in this world🌏. This beautiful soul maybe gone here on Earth. He is watching down now from heaven🙏. With God by his side. Sending tons of sympathy, love and hope. Dont ever forget you’ve got people all over thinking of Travis and this beautiful family. All our love Kelly Roethler Javon and Summer❤
My sympathy to his family and friends. His father, Gary was a classmate of mine. Blessings. Leanne Berns
My heart breaks for Travis’ family. I will always remember 5th grade Travis, who was so happy and kind. He loved to help in the kindergarten rooms at noon recess and they loved his help. He always stood up for anyone who needed support. He is a sweet soul that will truly be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I met Travis while working at Berks . Every time I saw Travis he always brought a smile to everyones face!
Gary, Sue, Jeremy, Kyle & family – we are so very sorry for your loss. It’s so hard to know what to say at time like this, but know that Travis is at peace & that you need to keep his memory within your hearts for the days ahead & years beyond. He will always be with you.
I am so very sorry for you loss. I worked with Travis at waverly Walmart back in the day of the old store. He was such a kind,helpful,generous, and had that big smile always on his face. I got to see him again when I lost my grandma and his comfort during our loss was such an amazing gift of his loving heart. He was truly a gifted and professional person. I was able to see him again at UIHC and it was so good to see him always had that positive contagious smile. He will be truly missed. God grant you comfort and peace during this time and always. Again I am so sorry for your loss but know he made a huge impact on the lives he touched.
I am so very sorry for your loss.