Obituary for Paul Stephan Ivan
Paul Stephan Ivan
Lubec, Maine and Cottrellville, Michigan
Paul Stephan Ivan, died unexpectedly of sudden cardiac arrest on June 30, 2021.
He was 67 years old.
Paul was born on February 26, 1954 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Our Lady of
Good Counsel Elementary School there, then went to high school at St. Lawrence
Seminary, Mt. Calvary, WI, a preparatory seminary for young men interested in
joining the Capuchin religious order.
Things changed after meeting his best friend and the love of his life, Roberta
“Bobbi” Busse, when he was starting a folk group at his local church. Friendship
deepened to love, and they were married on June 23, 1973. They bought a home
with lots of acreage in Cottrellvile, Michigan, and lived there for 39 years. They
always had a houseful of beloved pets – Bogie, Kutya, Buckwheat and Spanky,
Sophie and Katie, Woody, Madjka and Lulu – and loved the rural life.
Paul and Bobbi decided to make a permanent move to Maine, where they had
spent summer vacations. Paul was never so happy as when they made the move
to Lubec; it felt like he was finally where he was meant to be.
Paul worked for DaimlerChrysler, working his way up from the assembly line to
management in quality control and paint. He loved his job, but the hours were
long and demanding, so after 30 years at DaimlerChrysler he was glad to retire.
He volunteered as a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts, then was hired to
facilitate school tours there, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He also taught
Statistics at the local community college.
Somehow, he still found time for his ‘projects’. When Bobbi remarked that she
could use more closet space, he added 2000 sq. ft. to their small home, doing
most of the work himself but getting help when needed from his dad and
brothers. He rebuilt car engines, fixed tractors and lawn mowers, and even built
his own motorized “EZ Riser” ultralight hang glider, which he was in the process of
rebuilding, hoping to fly it once again.
Paul had other interests, too: travel, art (his landscape paintings were sold in
local gift shops), and playing the piano. His favorite song was “What a Wonderful
World”, and wherever she was in the house, Bobbi couldn’t help but smile when
she heard him playing it.
He was a certified scuba diver, studied for his pilot’s license, and played a decent
round of golf. He was a devoted fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings
teams. He was fascinated with space exploration and metaphysics, and he and
Bobbi spent many enjoyable hours just contemplating life.
He was imaginative, and spontaneous and so, so funny!
They recently celebrated 48 years of marriage, a marriage filled with both joys
and sorrows, but always shared together and bonded by love.
He was a man of deep faith and was a lifelong Catholic. He served as a reader and
church musician, did hospital outreach, taught high school religious education,
and was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
When he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Paul met that challenge with
God’s gift of strength and courage. He joined a clinical trial at MD Anderson in
Houston, TX, but only when he was assured that after his monthly treatments he
would always be able to return home to his beloved Lubec for a few weeks. He
endured this for eighteen months, and had been considered in remission for the
past two years.
In addition to his wife, Bobbi, and his cat, Lulu, Paul is also survived by his father,
Paul P. Ivan; his uncle, William Ivan; his brothers (and their wives): William
(Darlene) Ivan, Jerome (Theresa) Ivan, and Joseph (Karen) Ivan; his brothers-in-
law: Michael Busse, David (Katherine) Busse, and Charles (Marina) Busse; his
sister-in-law, Mary Anne Busse; nieces Sarah, Audrey (Steve), Alayna (Dakoda),
Lia (Aaron), Lauren, Jamie and Emma; nephews Jason (Jen), Brian (Crystal),
Christopher (Kristina), Matthew, and Charlie; many cousins, and their families.
He was predeceased by his mother, Shirley M. Ivan, and his mother-and father-in-
law, Jeanne and Karl Busse.
We would like to thank Dr. Robert Abrams, Regional Medical Center at Lubec, Dr.
Michael Wang and his staff at MD Anderson, the physicians and staff at Northern
Light Health Oncology, Palliative Care, and Cardiology departments, and the
Infusion Center staff at Down East Community Hospital in Machias for their caring
treatment and support.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 11:00 am at St.
Peter the Fisherman Parish, Sacred Heart Church, in Lubec. Fr. Philip Clement will
officiate. Visitation will be in the church starting at 10:00am up until the time of
Mass. A luncheon will be held in the church hall following Mass. Burial will be at
the Old Catholic Cemetery in Trescott, Maine.
Memorials may be made to The Capuchin Mission Association, 1820 Mt. Elliott
St., Detroit, Michigan 48207; The St. Vincent de Paul Society Detroit, 3000 Gratiot
Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48207; or the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, 3121
Hotel Rd., Auburn, Maine 04210-8398.
Paul left so many dreams unfulfilled, but so many more wonderful memories
remain with those who knew and loved him.
Lubec, Maine and Cottrellville, Michigan
Paul Stephan Ivan, died unexpectedly of sudden cardiac arrest on June 30, 2021.
He was 67 years old.
Paul was born on February 26, 1954 in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Our Lady of
Good Counsel Elementary School there, then went to high school at St. Lawrence
Seminary, Mt. Calvary, WI, a preparatory seminary for young men interested in
joining the Capuchin religious order.
Things changed after meeting his best friend and the love of his life, Roberta
“Bobbi” Busse, when he was starting a folk group at his local church. Friendship
deepened to love, and they were married on June 23, 1973. They bought a home
with lots of acreage in Cottrellvile, Michigan, and lived there for 39 years. They
always had a houseful of beloved pets – Bogie, Kutya, Buckwheat and Spanky,
Sophie and Katie, Woody, Madjka and Lulu – and loved the rural life.
Paul and Bobbi decided to make a permanent move to Maine, where they had
spent summer vacations. Paul was never so happy as when they made the move
to Lubec; it felt like he was finally where he was meant to be.
Paul worked for DaimlerChrysler, working his way up from the assembly line to
management in quality control and paint. He loved his job, but the hours were
long and demanding, so after 30 years at DaimlerChrysler he was glad to retire.
He volunteered as a docent at the Detroit Institute of Arts, then was hired to
facilitate school tours there, which he thoroughly enjoyed. He also taught
Statistics at the local community college.
Somehow, he still found time for his ‘projects’. When Bobbi remarked that she
could use more closet space, he added 2000 sq. ft. to their small home, doing
most of the work himself but getting help when needed from his dad and
brothers. He rebuilt car engines, fixed tractors and lawn mowers, and even built
his own motorized “EZ Riser” ultralight hang glider, which he was in the process of
rebuilding, hoping to fly it once again.
Paul had other interests, too: travel, art (his landscape paintings were sold in
local gift shops), and playing the piano. His favorite song was “What a Wonderful
World”, and wherever she was in the house, Bobbi couldn’t help but smile when
she heard him playing it.
He was a certified scuba diver, studied for his pilot’s license, and played a decent
round of golf. He was a devoted fan of the Detroit Tigers, Lions and Red Wings
teams. He was fascinated with space exploration and metaphysics, and he and
Bobbi spent many enjoyable hours just contemplating life.
He was imaginative, and spontaneous and so, so funny!
They recently celebrated 48 years of marriage, a marriage filled with both joys
and sorrows, but always shared together and bonded by love.
He was a man of deep faith and was a lifelong Catholic. He served as a reader and
church musician, did hospital outreach, taught high school religious education,
and was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
When he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, Paul met that challenge with
God’s gift of strength and courage. He joined a clinical trial at MD Anderson in
Houston, TX, but only when he was assured that after his monthly treatments he
would always be able to return home to his beloved Lubec for a few weeks. He
endured this for eighteen months, and had been considered in remission for the
past two years.
In addition to his wife, Bobbi, and his cat, Lulu, Paul is also survived by his father,
Paul P. Ivan; his uncle, William Ivan; his brothers (and their wives): William
(Darlene) Ivan, Jerome (Theresa) Ivan, and Joseph (Karen) Ivan; his brothers-in-
law: Michael Busse, David (Katherine) Busse, and Charles (Marina) Busse; his
sister-in-law, Mary Anne Busse; nieces Sarah, Audrey (Steve), Alayna (Dakoda),
Lia (Aaron), Lauren, Jamie and Emma; nephews Jason (Jen), Brian (Crystal),
Christopher (Kristina), Matthew, and Charlie; many cousins, and their families.
He was predeceased by his mother, Shirley M. Ivan, and his mother-and father-in-
law, Jeanne and Karl Busse.
We would like to thank Dr. Robert Abrams, Regional Medical Center at Lubec, Dr.
Michael Wang and his staff at MD Anderson, the physicians and staff at Northern
Light Health Oncology, Palliative Care, and Cardiology departments, and the
Infusion Center staff at Down East Community Hospital in Machias for their caring
treatment and support.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, July 8, 2021 at 11:00 am at St.
Peter the Fisherman Parish, Sacred Heart Church, in Lubec. Fr. Philip Clement will
officiate. Visitation will be in the church starting at 10:00am up until the time of
Mass. A luncheon will be held in the church hall following Mass. Burial will be at
the Old Catholic Cemetery in Trescott, Maine.
Memorials may be made to The Capuchin Mission Association, 1820 Mt. Elliott
St., Detroit, Michigan 48207; The St. Vincent de Paul Society Detroit, 3000 Gratiot
Ave, Detroit, Michigan 48207; or the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine, 3121
Hotel Rd., Auburn, Maine 04210-8398.
Paul left so many dreams unfulfilled, but so many more wonderful memories
remain with those who knew and loved him.