Isaac "Buddy" Bell

Isaac "Buddy" Bell, 85, of Oshkosh passed away early Tuesday morning, April 28, 2020 at the Regional West Garden County Nursing Home in Oshkosh.

Memorial Services will be held at a later date.

Cremation has taken place and there will be no visitation at the funeral home.

Holechek-Bondegard Funeral Home and Cremations in Oshkosh is serving the Bell family.

Isaac “Buddy” Bell was born May 4, 1934 to Lizzie Lewis and Dennis Bell in Lake Providence, LA. His family moved to Milwaukee when he was about 10 years old.  He married Stephanie Crane in 1970.  One daughter was born to this union – Monique Bell.

“Buddy” provided maintenance and yard care for the Mesa Vue apartments for nearly 20 years.  He took great pride in his work, as was evident by the well-tended lawns, flower beds and apartments.  Previous self-employment in Denver included:  a glass/mirror shop in east Denver (Park Hill area), an auto detail shop and a towing company.  Prior to Denver employment, he was employed by the City of Berkeley, CA.

Survivors include:  daughter Monique Bell-Pike and husband, Martin of Antioch, CA, grandchildren Marlin Johnson, Jr. of Las Vegas, NV, Takari Dargan of Fresno, CA, and Myliah Pike and Terrell Pike of Antioch, CA.  Great-grandchild Mareon Johnson is from Vallejo, CA.  Close friend Carolyn Veasley from Denver also mourns his loss.

“Buddy” left this life the morning of April 28, 2020 at the age of 85 years following a brief stay in Regional West Garden County Nursing Home in Oshkosh, NE.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Monique Pike (Bell) : To my dearest dad. We were separated when I was a young age 3. When I was growing up I would often wonder how my life would be if you were in it. Even though we were torn apart we were still together. I went on a journey to find you in 2009, I spent many long nights researching with the little information I had. And one day my prayers were answered. I had found the other piece of my heart. Our reunion was the best day of my life. We were inseparable every since. You are the best dad a girl could ever have and made up for lost time beyond anyone can ever imagine. We have so much in common. I’m going to miss our long talks, hugs and my special surprises when you come to visit us. My heart is broken but I continue to be blessed.  I know you are in a better place and until we meet again. I love you Daddy may you rest in peace.

Love your Baby Girl

Rose Brassfield:  The Volunteers of America – Western Nebraska (VOA-WN) food pantry had been receiving fresh produce from the North Platte Wal-Mart via the Ogallala food pantry.  Following Norma Quick’s death, the Ogallala food pantry chose to discontinue providing the Wal-Mart food to outlying food pantries.  Buddy (who had volunteered to pick up food in Ogallala previously) arrived one day with good friend, Garry Martin (Blue Creek Motors) in tow.  They were concerned with the need for fresh produce and good foods in our community.  I believe I sat open-mouthed as their plan for driving to North Platte unfolded.  Martin would provide the trailer and they (including Garry’s son, Jacob) would change off as drivers.  And so ----- our delivery arrived each Wednesday.  An abundance of fresh fruits and produce was distributed freely with a portion being sent on to Mesa Vue community room, Lemoyne food pantry and the Big Springs food pantry.  It began with Buddy, who said “my folks” really need this food.  Thanks Buddy!

(on a personal note):  My mom, Margie Lane, moved into the apartment next to Buddy’s.  As her health declined, she became unable to carry her groceries in.  She called and I would come immediately after work to carry things in for her.  Buddy commented on these activities and I explained she was no longer able to carry.  Buddy said, “I’ll take care of it.”  When mom arrived at the apartment with groceries, Buddy would just happen to be there providing a carry-in service.  Thanks Buddy!  I will never forget you or the many acts of kindness I witnessed.  I miss your laughter and that million-dollar smile.

Kathie Brown:  My first winter at Mesa Vue I was still working at school driving the handicap bus for the Webster kids.  I got up at 4:30ish to shovel out my car, brush off the snow and start it to defrost the windows.  I got ready for work, stepped out the front door to get my car ready – WOW! 

The sidewalk was cleaned all over the property, the snow was shoveled out between cars, my car was brushed off!  I got in, started it and sat there waiting for it to defrost.  I backed out and headed to Lewellen (that was where the handicap bus was parked outside).  I shoveled, cleared off snow and had it running to warm up.  I still had time to relax – then up the hill to Websters.  (I had to be sitting at the door at 7:00 am). 

That first snow day was great!  Where I lived before, I shoveled, swept off, scraped windows, etc.  I didn’t have to do any of this at Mesa Vue – THANKS BUDDY!

1. I got to sleep in til 5:15 am.

Mickey Gray:  Isaac (Buddy) Bell was an awesome person. He worked for the Oshkosh Housing Authority for nearly 20 years. I have never known a person that took such pride in their work.  With the help of his co-worker Mark Johnson, the yard, flower beds and garden were kept to perfection.  His work ethic was combined with kindness and caring for all the tenants at Mesa Vue. 

His spare time was spent giving back to the community both in Garden County and Denver. He volunteered at VOA food pantry for years. He belonged to a classic car club in Denver where they provided holiday meals and gifts to needy families and supported a men’s homeless shelter. He was ready to help anyone in need.

Buddy will be missed by so many people in our community. I was privileged to call him friend. I will never forget him.

Tim Jensen:  Giving a Tribute to Buddy is a great privilege. He was one of the most genuinely sincere people that I’ve ever known. I first met Buddy January 18, 1999 as a patient in our office. Through the years, we saw him as a patient and he became a very good friend. He always had that great smile, and sense of humor. He was always doing things for others- that’s just who he was. He loved his cars; and he always had some good stories to go along with them (e.g. the pink cadillac, etc.). And he was quite a cook, especially at barbequed chicken (which he made for Jean and me once). I saw him for the last time at the office on February 20th this year. Something will remind me about him occasionally, and I’ll start remembering times we had seen him.  I only hope that I was as good a friend to him as he was to me. I’ll miss him a lot. 

Garry Martin (Blue Creek Motors): “You Saved My Life”

Several years ago, I was visiting with Buddy, and he said he wanted to paint his blue Cadillac pink.  I said that would be cool, but why?  He replied “that in honor of Aretha Franklin’s passing,” he would like to paint his car pink.

He thought he would take it to Denver to have it done at a nationwide body and paint shop.  So, I thought it would be better to take it to a guy I was using to do paint and body work over in Colorado.  He agreed that we could take it to him, and we did.

He told Buddy and I that he would do a good job and showed Buddy some samples of paint and flake to put in the paint.  Buddy was very excited and agreed to pay him $2500 to do it.  Months went by, still not done, Buddy made calls to the guy and would always get a story why it was not done.  So, Buddy asked me to call him on his behalf.  I did.  Finally, Buddy had waited long enough.  So, I called the guy and said we are coming to get the car, done or not.

Buddy met me at my office in the morning and we went to get his car.  When we arrived at the Body Shop, the car was almost done.  So, I told Buddy to be patient and we gave the guy a little time to complete it.

This is where it gets out of hand ……  The guy tells Buddy that if he wants his car back, that its going to cost him $3500 instead of the $2500 we all agreed on.  Buddy was like I have never seen him before.  He was angry and I was to.  I calmed him down and we left.  I then told Buddy we need to go see the County Attorney and we did.

The County Attorney was very nice and I could tell he wanted to help us.  I believe Buddy was 83 years old then.  The County Attorney informed us that would have to take this guy to court if we wanted satisfaction.  He also thought we would win the case because of our two words against his one; not to mention that this guy was trying to take advantage of the elderly.  But it could take months before it would go to trial and he could do damage to the car while it was in his possession.  So, we felt we were over a barrel and we drove back to Lewellen.

Buddy had the $2500 and he could get another $500.  I owed Buddy for helping me detail and transport vehicles so I got $500 to go with it.  The next morning Buddy met me at my office and we were going to get the Cadillac.  We were getting ready to go and I noticed a pistol in Buddy’s pocket.  I said, “Buddy, what are doing with gun?” 

He said “I’m going to shoot that no-good blankety-blank-blank-blank!” 

“No way” I said.  “I’m not going with you unless you leave that gun here.  It’s not worth $1,000 to take that no-good blankety-blank-blank-blank’s life.”

He replied “I’m 83 years old, I don’t care anymore.”

“Buddy, you leave the gun here and I will help you go get your car.”  Buddy laid the gun down on my desk and agreed with me that wasn’t a good idea.  We went and got his car, paid the no- good s.o.b. $3500 and drove back to Lewellen.  Buddy always told me that I saved his life that day.  But I think I saved the other guy’s life!  Buddy always said if it wasn’t for Garry, I’d be O.J. Simpson’s roommate! 

You live a lifetime and you are blessed with a friend like Buddy.  I met him 10 years ago.  That’s my only regret; I didn’t meet him 30 or 40 years ago.  He was a tremendous friend to my son, Jacob, and I.  We miss him every day and we are grateful that he was our friend.  We will always remember Buddy ……..

Carol VEasley, Denver (taken from facebook):  Buddy! Loving you now & forever My love... you have only transition to your new heavenly home for some few hours seems like forever but I feel good about that and believe everything’s going to be alright! That’s exactly what you would tell me! Buddy I’m gonna be alright... Rest Well Love