Carl William ‘Buck’ Nystrom

Buck was born on August 7th, 1933, in Marquette, Michigan, one of two sons of the late Carl “Buck” Sr. and Rebecca (Garceau) Nystrom. Carl was called “Bud” by family and close friends, but in high school his nickname by friends turned into “Buck”.

Buck was beloved by all he knew as he was always positive and had a cheerful word for everyone he met. His players would call him the toughest, meanest coach they ever had, but also one of their favorites and credit him with shaping them into the men they became. He maintained close friendships with many of his former players for his entire life.

He attended Graveraet High School where he earned 13 varsity letters as a four-sport athlete and all-state honors in football. He played football so explosively he lost his four front teeth in a game. His replacement bridge went on to become as legendary as he was.

After high school graduation he hitch-hiked to East Lansing where he attended Michigan State University. He studied physical education and was a walk-on football player under Biggie Munn in 1953 and Duffy Daugherty from 1954-55. He lettered all three years and earned his scholarship with hard work and his passion for the game of football while helping MSU win a share of the 1953 Big Ten title, the 1955 National Championship, and the 1954 and 1956 Rose Bowl victories. His senior year he was the first MSU athlete to earn both Athletic and Academic All American honors. He was captain of the 1956 Rose Bowl champion team and was voted “Most Valuable Player” by his teammates. He was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and played in the 1956 Senior Bowl. Buck was drafted by the Washington Redskins Football Team in the 1956.

National Football League Draft, but thought he was too small to play at the professional level. Instead, following graduation in the spring of 1956 with a BA in Education, he started his first teaching and coaching position at Lansing Sexton High School in Michigan.

In July of 1957 Buck enlisted and proudly served in the Michigan Army National Guard, after basic training he served six months of active duty as a finance clerk. He was awarded a Marksmanship Badge, and served mainly as a finance clerk. He was then discharged and transferred to the Army Reserve to complete his remaining service of four years.

Buck then went on to coach at the collegiate level for 34 years. He coached two stints at University of Colorado, North Dakota State University, The University of Oklahoma, two stints at Michigan State University, and two stints at Northern Michigan University. He was on the coaching staffs of the championship teams at NDSU in 1965, UO in 1967, and NMU in 1975. If you’re keeping count, as he proudly did, that is five Championships total.

Buck is the creator of the “4th Quarter Program”, the off-season conditioning program used by football programs across the nation, and is the writer of “A Football Player”. Buck Nystrom was inducted into the U.P. Sports Hall of Fame in 1975, the North Dakota State Sports Hall of Fame in 1994, the Northern Michigan Sports Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Michigan State Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

Buck was also a businessman. He dabbled in real estate, always on the look-out for a good investment, was owner of “Buck’s Tog Shoppe”, eventually opening three locations. He also co-founded “Frosty Treats” with his best friend and cousin, the late Neil Nystrom. Buck did not slow down in retirement.

He continued his football passion by writing four coaching manuals, “Run and Pass Block Progression Techniques and Drills”, “Drive Block Progression & Other Offensive Techniques”, “4th Quarter Conditioning Program and Its Edge“, and “Youth Football Manual”. The last was inspired while watching his grandson, Logan Nystrom, while he played 7th grade football. He also coached the offensive lines of area high school teams every fall, started offensive line camps, and spoke frequently at coaching clinics on offensive line play and techniques.

In his retirement Buck could be found daily at coffee with friends, 8 am Mass, golfing, fishing, and gardening. His favorite things were spending time with family and friends in Marquette and at his camp on Mehl Lake. He was a blueberry hunter and picker, always on the hunt for the best wild blueberries in the area. He enjoyed sharing the blueberries that he didn’t eat on his nightly scoops of vanilla ice cream. He adored his grandchildren and sent cards with little notes and cash in them for every little occasion or holiday. He enjoyed traveling south to Gulfport, AL and quiet evenings with Joan. Buck’s favorite pastime was following (and helping) his son Kyle’s team wherever he was coaching every fall, and again in the spring, usually in time for the spring game. The offensive linemen could always expect an extended practice run by Coach Buck.

He was married to his beloved Joan for 59 years before she passed away on November 1st of 2015. He missed her companionship, great cooking and conversation dearly these past six years.

He credited the success of his career to her as she was the perfect football coach’s wife. She was always understanding of the long hours, coaching transitions and moves, and was ready to cheer on his teams every Saturday. Joan joked that he married her because she was a hard worker, but Buck was known to quietly compliment her as a “looker” and he looked forward to spending every evening with her.

Buck is survived by his only son, Kyle Nystrom, daughter-in-law, Cherise (Staley) Nystrom, his three grandchildren, Logan, Tellena, and Eva Nystrom; his only brother, Robert “Bob” Nystrom; his brothers-in-law, Roger (Janet) Whitmarsh, Mark (Jackie) Whitmarsh, and John (Mary Jane) Whitmarsh, all of Chatham, MI, sister-in-law, Harriet (Bob) Bartlett of Jacksonville, NC as well as, many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death besides his wife and parents, were two sisters-in-laws, Evelyn Nystrom and Ruth Whitmarsh, and brother-in-law, Bruce Whitmarsh of Miles, MT.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, November 19th at 1 p.m., at St. Peter Cathedral, in Marquette, with the Rev. Msgr. Michael Steber officiating. The Mass will be livestreamed at: https://my.gather.app/re member/carl-buck-nystrom. The Nystrom family will greet relatives and friends beginning at 11 a.m., Friday, until the time of the Mass at the church. Private burial will take place in the Park Cemetery. Another celebration of Buck’s life will be scheduled for spring 2022, at Northern Michigan University and will be announced.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in honor of Buck to support our area youth at Superior Arts Youth Theater: saytheater.org/donate, or SAYT, P.O. Box 741, Marquette, MI 49855 or youth athletics at Marquette Area Public Schools at Mqtredmen.com.

Canale-Tonella Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the Nystrom family where memories of Buck may be shared at canalefuneral.com.