Oscar was born Sept. 14, 1913 to Bertha Maerz Buchmueller and Paul John Buchmueller in Marine, IL. He graduated from Eureka College, where he was a fraternity brother of Ronald Reagan. He graduated from Eden Seminary, Webster Groves, MO, and was ordained June 19, 1938.

He served at the Evangelical and Reformed Church and the First Congregational Church in Barnesville, MN. In 1948, these two congregations joined to form Saint James Church, which was the first merger of the two denominations that later became the United Church of Christ. Oscar also served at Lyndale Congregational United Church of Christ in South Minneapolis from 1959 to 1980. He continued to serve in the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ as an Interim Minister and as Annuitant Visitor for the UCC Pension Board. He continued to preach until his 90th birthday.

Oscar was very involved in Camp Fire in the Fargo-Moorhead area and in Minneapolis and at Emerson Congregational UCC Church in Richfield. He was also known for his lifelong love of music, directing his church choirs and a group of ministers' wives known as the "Parsonettes."

Oscar was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Bertha, and three brothers, Theodore, Helmuth and Alfred. Also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Jane, and grandson, Thomas Jon Menken. He is survived by daughters, Nancy (Karl) Swessinger, Ruth (Jerry) Menken, and Helen (Tom) Lockhart; grandchildren, Mark (Tamara Baugh) Swessinger, David (Michele) Swessinger, Jane (Ray) Stadt, Mick Menken (fiancee Peggy Leslie and son Christopher), Tina (Chuck) Barber, Jennifer (Eric) Przybilla, Samantha (Greg) Woodford; great-grandchildren, Courtney, Thomas, Andrew, Emily and Jacob Swessinger.

Visitation Sunday, July 22, 2007 from 1:30 to 3:00 PM, followed by a Memorial Service at 3:00 PM Sunday, July 22, 2007 at Emerson Congregational United Church of Christ, 7601 Girard Ave S., Richfield. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Fairview Hospice Foundation, Walker Foundation or Emerson Church. Morris Nilsen Chapel 612-869-3226 www.morrisnilsen.com Published in the Star Tribune from 7/10/2007 - 7/15/2007.