Michael Don Bush

Michael Don Bush passed away on July 9, 2023 after a short illness. He was born October 17, 1946 to Donald W. Bush and Margaret O. (Hyatt) Bush in Wichita, KS, which is where his parents were born and raised.  Michael is of Osage heritage on his mother’s side.

Michael’s father was a career Air Force Pilot, which took the family all over the world.  They lived in the Philippines, Adak, Alaska (in the Aleutian Island chain), Tripoli, Libia as well as several military bases in the United States.  All the traveling gave Michael a good education of different parts of the world. While growing up, he used to hunt and fish with his father.

After some college in Montana, Michael moved to California for the music and lifestyle of the 60’s, and he never left.  He had 2 children, Amelia and Austin, with his first wife, Penny.  Michael started working as a cabinet maker in 1983 in Windsor, CA, then after perfecting his skills, moved to Sonoma to work at Artisan Woodworker.

In 1989, Michael got clean and sober and started his own business doing custom closets, garage systems and offices.  His son Austin started working with his dad as a teenager, learning the cabinet making business.  Austin has helped his dad in running the business for years, and will now take over the business.  Amelia and her father shared the love of music and meditation.

Besides Michael’s love of fishing, he started riding motorcycles again after many years of not riding.  His friends that encouraged him to start riding again, decided in 1999 to ride to Cedaredge, CO for the Serenity Run, a clean and sober motorcycle campout.  That is where Michael met Gretchen.  They would see each other at the campout for another 2 years before they began dating.  In 2002,

Gretchen moved to Sonoma, CA to live with Michael.  They rode all over the western United States for years, visiting their moms in Colorado every summer.

Michael is proceeded in death by his parents.  He is survived by his longtime partner, Gretchen Tomm, Sonoma, CA, his daughter Amelia, Alameda CA, his son Austin (Isabelle), Sonoma, CA, his older sister Patricia Bush, Winter Haven, FL, his younger sister Shari Henson, Wichita, KS, his grandchildren Mason, Kelsey, Trey, Gavin, Ethan and Chloe, as well as cousins, nieces and nephews.

Michael will be greatly missed not only by his partner and family, but by all his friends.

Celebration of his life will be August 12, 2023 at Duggan's Mission Chapel  at 12 Noon.

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