John Francis Bushkuhl

On July 16, 2026, John Francis Bushkuhl, 90, of Houston, TX, passed away peacefully. John was born in Peru, Indiana, on December 29, 1935, to Loretta (born in Indiana) and Albert Bushkuhl (born in Ohio). He proudly attended the University of Arkansas where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. John’s life was distinguished by being a loving husband, a dedicated dad, a devoted Catholic, a process engineer, a real pawpaw and a master gardener. He was greatly looking forward to being a great-granddad, missing that honor by only a couple of weeks. He had a lifelong passion for the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Houston Astros. He loved deeply, devoted his life to his wife and family and left a lasting legacy of steadfastness, dedication to hard work, humor, integrity, faith and great engineering to his family and the places he worked. He will be greatly missed. He was a member of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston for 16 years. He served as a Eucharist Minister. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He married the love of his life, Sophia Chrysapho “Chris” Broomas on June 7, 1958. They had 5 children: Stephen, Mark, Mary, Elizabeth, and Paul. He worked as a chemical engineer, living in Muskogee, OK (Callery Chemical) , Savannah, GA & Jacksonville, FL (Union Camp), Venezuela (ESSO -Creole Petroleum), Libya (Esso Standard Libya), Saudi Arabia (Exxon & ARAMCO) and retired in Houston, TX (Exxon Production Research). He loved his family and was committed to ensuring they achieved their full potential in all aspects of their lives. His purpose in life was to provide a better life for his children than he had known growing up. He enjoyed traveling, playing bridge, sailing, golﬁng, gardening, listening to music and dancing. When he lived in Fayetteville, AR, he was an avid member of the Master Gardeners of Northwest Arkansas and assisted in the Chemical Engineering lab at the University of Arkansas. In his later years, he was an enthusiastic participant in the Eagle’s Trace community in Houston and was genuinely interested in all residents and staﬀ. During retirement, John and Chris continued traveling the world and for their 50th wedding anniversary cruised around the world on Queen Victoria. John is survived by his children: Stephen Bushkuhl (Katrina), Mark Bushkuhl (Rebecca), Mary Bushkuhl (Kim Heiduck), Elizabeth Aitkens (Scott), Paul Bushkuhl (Michael Gunther). His grandchildren: Harrison Bushkuhl, Kathryn Colwell (Trevor), Grant Bushkuhl (Joanna Marchi), Shelby Bushkuhl (Lauren), Mathew Aitkens, Reed Bushkuhl (Savannah) and Cade Bushkuhl. His great-grandchild: Atlas Colwell; and his sister; Kathy Schmelzer. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sophia “Chris” Bushkuhl; his father, Albert Bushkuhl; his mother, Loretta Bushkuhl; and his brother, Richard Bushkuhl (Josephine). A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, September 18, 2026, at 10:30am, at St John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston TX. A reception will immediately follow at the church. A private family service will be held at Memorial Oaks Cemetery. In lieu of ﬂowers, please make donations to the John and Sophia Bushkuhl Endowed Scholarship in Chemical Engineering at the University of Arkansas. Gifts may be made online at this link: hJps://onlinegiving.uark.edu/campaigns/53930/donaTons/new?designaTon_id=30007079. Or make checks payable to “UA Foundation” with a note in the memo section – “John and Sophia Bushkuhl Endowed Scholarship.” Mail to: Gift Administration, University of Arkansas, 481 S. Shiloh Dr., Fayetteville, AR 72704.

John Francis Bushkuhl

December 29, 1935 - July 16, 2026