Natalie Bussan

Natalie Tashner Bussan, age 51, of Oxford, passed away at home surrounded by her family on July 19, 2026, after a long and heroic battle with cancer that lasted over 11 years.

Born in Dubuque, Iowa on December 30, 1974, Natalie graduated from Cuba City High School, where she was a state champion in high jump and part of two state winning basketball teams. She then attended UW-Platteville and graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2000. She moved to Baraboo and met her husband, Chad, who graduated in the same law school class. Natalie was an attorney with Cross, Jenks, Mercer & Maffei in Baraboo for the majority of her career until she started her own firm, Ivy & Owl Law in 2022. She was a brilliant attorney whose intelligence and ability to navigate difficult situations with confidence separated her from the rest. She served as Marquette County Corporation Counsel from 2019 until her retirement last year and always considered the County Board as family that she was protecting.

Once Natalie and Chad had their children Owen and Carmen, her life changed forever and she was always engaged in their lives whether it be through coaching them in sports, being the overprotective mom, taking them to new and exciting places on vacations, or simply just showing up to let them know she was proud of them.

Natalie was a force of nature who lit up every room she walked into. It only took one meeting for a person to remember her as she had an infectious love of life. She loved her family and loved to travel and explore new places. Natalie also had a passion for board games and never turned down the chance to play a game, the more complicated, the better. She lived life to its fullest even after her diagnosis, and taught those around her to truly live every single day. Her stubborn refusal to accept her fate helped her survive a year and a half longer than any estimation by doctors.

Natalie is survived by her husband, Chad Hendee and her children: Owen Hendee and Carmen Hendee. She is also survived by her parents, Steve and Maxine Bussan, her brother, Adam Bussan, his wife, Dr. Sherry Chou and niece, Nora. Natalie is further survived by her father-in-law, Bob Hendee, sister-in-law, Heather (Marty) Brick and nieces: Robin and Eilish as well as numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and countless friends she loved dearly.

A Celebration of Natalie’s Life will be held at the Hilliard Haven Event Barn, 3524 1st Dr., Oxford, on August 1, 2026, from 4:00 until 8:00 PM with a time for sharing memories at 6:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Natalie Bussan Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o National Exchange Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 307, Westfield, WI 53964-0307 that will benefit future graduates of Westfield Area High School and Cuba City High School.

Crawford Funeral and Cremation Service of Oxford and Montello is honored to be serving the family. www.CrawfordFH.com