Roland "Bud" Mcbain

Roland “Bud” McBain of Pickerel passed away on November 26, 2020 at the age of 96, 19 days after contracting COVID-19. Bud was born on June 7, 1924 in Seymour to the late Arthur and Beatrice (Sherman) McBain. On October 20, 1951, Bud was united in marriage to Ruth Strand at Salem Lutheran Church in Ironwood, MI. She preceded him in death on October 6, 1986. Bud graduated from Seymour High School in 1942. He then went on to attend Lawrence University in Appleton, WI. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1945 as a sergeant with the Armed Forces Radio Service in WWII, providing facilities for transmission of network broadcasts to the United States. His broadcasting career included NBC in New York and radio stations WNAM in Neenah and WOSH in Oshkosh. The McBains lived in Neenah and Menasha before moving to Oshkosh where they raised their three children and resided from 1953 to 1981. They moved to their longtime cabin on Pickerel Lake in 1981. Bud was a member of Arbutus Lutheran Church where he served on the church council. He was also a member of the Pickerel Volunteer Fire Department. As a long-time Scouter, he was awarded the Silver Beaver Honor in 1979 by Bay Lakes Council. He was also a member of the Base Committee of the Northern Wisconsin National Canoe Base at Boulder Junction. Upon moving to Pickerel, he became associated with camp MaKaJaWan at Pearson where he received the Life Staffer Award for service on the camp staff. Bud is survived by sons Jack (Debra Groveman) McBain of Lebanon, NH and Michael (Wendy) McBain of Grand Marais, MN; daughter; Sue Ellen (Jim) Hoeffner of Vancouver, WA; sister; Rogene Skodinski of Seymour; four grandchildren: Lea McBain, Ross (Megan) Hoeffner, Ruth McBain, and Eric Hoeffner; a niece and nephew; and dear friends Trent and Linda Zellmer of Pearson. A memorial service will be announced at a future date. The family wishes to thank the staff of Evergreen Terrace Assisted Living for the loving care they provided Bud during his last years and final days. Strasser-Roller Funeral Home is assisting the family. Friends may visit online at strasserrollerfuneralhome.com. A memorial fund has been established in Bud’s name for Arbutus Lutheran Church and may be sent directly to Arbutus at W6607 Church Lane, Pearson, WI 54462. Additionally and most importantly, the family would like you to know if you wish to honor Bud’s memory, please personally acknowledge the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic, practice social distancing, and wear a mask. Because lives depend upon it.