Caledonia Argus

Memories of Steve & Travis Bulman

Posted: 6/25/02

By Denise Bulman

Steve and I started dating the fall of 1973 and married in June of 1975. I was married quite young (just under age 18) and I used to tease him that he had robbed the cradle, but according to him, he practically raised me. I remember telling my parents that I was never going to marry a farmer, but he kind of grew on me and soon we were inseparable.

We had three children, the first two who were adopted from Korea. We had actually talked about adopting children when we were dating, and had decided to do so even back then. Andrew came to us at the age of 10 months, looking like small version of a Sumo wrestler. I remember he was quite a load to carry around when my arm muscles hadnít had a chance to work up to it. A year and a half later, we adopted a cute little four-month-old baby girl, Abby, and we thought our lovely family was complete. God had more plans though for us and after 13 years of marriage, Travis came along, a little five pound bundle of joy.

Life was busy and Steve was a good father and always enjoyed spending time with the kids. His passion though was farming and doing mechanical work. I continued to be surprised he would never lose his patience with me when trying to explain how an engine worked or how to drive the tractor etc. when I had absolutely no mechanical aptitude. I had an accounting degree so that was my contribution to our farming operation. I did eventually learn to drive our tractor and the graincart and we would spend many a long day harvesting in the fall. When tempers would get short because of lack of sleep he could always make me laugh by singing over the CB radio and I would sincerely hope no one was listening on our channel because he couldnít carry a tune and his choice of songs would run to Here Comes Peter Cottontail and some dumb song he and Travis would sing about Barney (the purple dinosaur). He was quite a character.

There was never a dull moment and many people can attest to his unique sense of humor and teasing. He especially loved to tease his sisters and sisters-in-law. I know they had to put up with a lot but I think they secretly enjoyed it and would never let him know that fact or he wouldíve done it even more. He also liked to tack nicknames onto everyone and he himself acquired the nickname Aufl when he was in the Army in Germany. He was the only soldier on his base that had a motorcycle and when a movie was shown on the base entitled Evil Knievel and Awful Knawful, he soon became known as the latter. Only of course he had to change the spelling of Aufl. Spelling never was one of his strong suits. I pretty much always called him Aufl and he wouldnít answer to Steve when I was trying to get his attention when we were in a store or something. I could get some strange looks when I quietly tried to hiss the name Aufl so nobody would hear. I did have to try and call him Steve more because when the children were small my mother-in-law pointed out to me that kids didnít know their fathers real name.

Steve loved to discuss politics, farming, or cars for hours. He had a great mind for details and seemed to remember most everything he ever read or things that had happened years and years ago. We sometimes despaired of ever getting home after church if he was deep in conversation with one of his friends. He always had time to visit or help a friend or family member in need. He never did wear a watch, even though my parents and I bought him several over the years. He just worked until the job was done or he had accomplished everything that he wanted to that day. I soon learned not to be offended when he wanted supper around 10:00 to 12:00 at night. He had a great love for his work and his family.

Travis was pretty much a chip off the old block. He trailed after his Dad from an early age on and loved to go to the shop over by Caledonia and get his hands dirty. Sometimes when he came home particularly dirty, I would ask Steve why he had allowed him to roll around on the floor. Steve taught him to drive at an early age and he often helped move equipment from farm to farm to help us out. This year he planted 60 acres of soybeans by himself with the drill. He could understand and drive machinery better than his mom. He already had a vast knowledge of motors, machinery, welding and building things. He was glad when school was out for the day so he could go outside and play or drive his 4-wheeler. He excelled at the school subjects he was interested in, but never could see the point in taking grammar and English. He loved playing basketball with his buddies and just hanging out with them. The girls in his class had suddenly become a lot more interesting and his sister Abby could tease him about it and he wouldnít even deny that they were pretty neat.

Abby and he had become particularly close after his big brother left for the military. I would often find them sharing one recliner watching T.V. I would mention that there was another chair to sit in, but they wanted to sit together. He liked to put his head on her shoulder during church and she would hold his hand. It was hard to believe he was growing up though and getting a shadow on his upper lip. He took great pride in reminding me that he was now taller than me and would rest his arm on my shoulder and look down on me and tell me I was short. He looked up to his older brother Andy and had told me he wanted to go into the military just like him. Andrew is serving in an elite Air Force Special Ops unit and was serving overseas when he was called home with the bad news. He and his fianceÈ, Ricki, who is originally from Germany and is also in the Air Force, have been a great comfort to our family as we try to cope with the loss we have suffered.

Our families, friends and the surrounding communities have just showered us with kindness and prayers and I donít know if we could have survived this ordeal without them. We are just taking one day at a time and our faith in God is sustaining us. We know we will see them one day in heaven, but we truly miss them now. Please continue to keep us in your prayers, especially Abby, as she not only lost her Dad and brother but her boyfriend that she loved immensely. He had become a regular fixture at our house and was quite a nice young man. We will have many fine memories of Steve, Travis and Billy that we will always treasure and hold in our hearts.

(Editorís note: Steve Bulman, 51, and his 13-year-old son, Travis, were killed in an auto accident near Caledonia on June 9. Also killed was Billy Bubbers, 20, of Caledonia. Denise Bulman preferred not to be interviewed by The Argus, but wanted to share her memories in her own words.

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