Van Tusa

Sam Vance Tusa, 79, of Waco, passed away Friday, September 27, 2024, at his farm. A visitation will be held at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey chapel from 5:00 until 7:00 pm Tuesday October 1. Graveside services will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, October 2, at Rosemound Cemetery, with the Reverend David E. Story officiating. 

Van was born on February 24, 1945 to Sam and Bess (Redding) Tusa. He grew up in his parents’ grocery stores where a lifetime of hard work and serving customers began. Van graduated from University High School in 1964 and went to Hill Junior College until he returned home to help run the grocery store due to his father’s illness. He and his wife Linda owned a wholesale meat business, Tusa Wholesale, that they were both involved in until their deaths. 

 Van married his beloved Linda (McMahan) on April 15, 1966. Van and Linda were married 56 years. They had one daughter, Laura Beth. 

 Van is survived by his daughter, Laura Beth; Megan Hromadka, his daughter-by-choice; nephew Donn McMahan, who he thought of as a son; David Story, his treasured friend; brother-in-law, Robert McMahan and wife Dottie; sister-in law, Marie French, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. 

 He was preceded in death by his wife, Linda; his parents, Sam and Bess Tusa; brothers-in-law Andy Anderson, Davied French, David McMahan, and Donnie McMahan; and sisters-in-law, Patricia McMahan and Nancy Anderson. 

 He was a long-time member of Richfield Christian Church. 

 Van loved nothing more than sitting on the back porch at the farm watching the cows walk by. Everyone knew he had no interest in venturing too far off South 3rd Street! He always loved riding his horse around the farm on Saturday mornings, with his dog Cooper jogging along behind them. Van always enjoyed having big holiday gatherings, but his favorite day of the year was September 1st, the first day of dove season. He had no interest in the actual hunting, but he loved cooking barbecue for the hunters. He would cook and they would come in droves! 

 Van and Linda built their business “from scratch”. He cherished the friendships he made with other local business owners. He thrived on making good deals and “running a low-overhead operation”. Anyone who ever went to the store knows this is definitely true! Van loved the people who worked alongside him for the business like they were family. 

 Even more than selling eggs and chickens and cooking barbecue, he loved his girls. His greatest joy in life was loving and taking care of his wife and daughter. Everything Van did was to prepare for their futures and ensure they were well-provided for. 

 Van lived a life of honor and integrity. He leaves for us a legacy of working hard and loving big. There will never be another one like him. He will be dearly missed by many, but he is finally at peace, resting comfortably, fully-restored, sitting on a porch on some heavenly farm that his beloved Linda carefully selected for him, just watching the cows walk by. 

 Honorary pallbearers are Robert Calhoun, Sammy Citrano, Mike Hannon, Dan Henderson, Hugh Hughes, Dick Kettler, Garry Romines, David Stodghill, Raymond Talley, Johnny Tusa and Leonard Tusa. 

 In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to your favorite charity. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on Van’s “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com