Gregory Francis Buehlander

Gregory Francis Buehlander, Indianapolis, transitioned from this life to the next on February 15, 2024, at home with Mandy by his side, after a difficult illness. He was 70 years old. 

Born June 5, 1953, Greg grew up in the Chicago and South Bend areas. He graduated from St. Joseph HS (Westchester) and attended the University of Chicago for a short time.

Setting out on his own in the world, Greg created family out of friends as he went. He worked a variety of jobs including running a magazine stand, operating a movie theater, delivering newspapers on a truck, serving as night watchman at The Olive Branch Mission and running packaging and shipping at a speciality metal plating factory. But his most important “jobs” by far was the privilege of caretaking his dear Sid and Eli and the honor of parenting Zayne.

In 1985, he met Mandy Carpenter (Vonnie-Buehlander) while doing shared service work. They married in 1988. In 2013, Greg and Mandy’s family expanded with the addition of a son, Zayne Judd, to their family. Greg enjoyed animals and the natural world. He spent countless hours watching and feeding the many birds and animals living outside of his “country condo in the city.” Cats never could resist him, and he cared for his animal companions with patience and love.

His lifetime interest in learning about and understanding almost anything spurred him to create a vast home library of books and movies. Visiting friends and family regularly found themselves happily distracted by rooms of shelves filled with an extensive range of things to read, watch and discuss. When asked if he had read all of the books in his library, he’d look around and reply, “There is one book I haven’t read, but I can’t remember which one it is!.”

Greg is survived by his beloved wife, Mandy, and much-loved son, Zayne (Jackie) Judd, of whom he was most proud. Their grief is shared by faithful sister-in-love Betsy Carpenter (Steve Clarke), brother-in-law Noel (Kathy) Carpenter, loved nieces and nephews Megan Carpenter (Sergio Montealegre), Amy Carpenter, Kyle Carpenter and Matt Carpenter, dearest friends, Cindy Lanane and Priscilla Lynch, and by his niece, Eli (Sean) Cole, and nephew, Sid (Shaina) Terano, with whom he spent countless happy hours, sharing his silliness and love of books and shows and movies, learning to parent before becoming a father himself.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

While Greg loved all of these people, his one directive for this remembrance was to include, “He loved Mandy, best of all.” She will long for him daily. 

Commitment to the Earth will take place on February 19, 2024, at Kessler Woods in Washington Park North Cemetery with a private service. A celebration of Greg’s life will be held at a later time. Arrangements are entrusted to Flanner Buchanan.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Greg’s memory.