John Walter Buckingham 1927-2009

BUCKINGHAM, MULLINS, FRISK, VAN PELT, HEMBRY, DUNCAN, NICHOLSON, HURD, PESTOTNIK, SMITH

Posted By: Curtis (email)
Date: 12/21/2009 at 10:02:41

DEATH NOTICE:

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa December 9, 2009)

BUCKINGHAM, John Walter, 82, of Des Moines, Iowa, died December 2, 2009 at his home. Funeral services were held December 5 at All Saints Catholic Church in Des Moines with Father Robert Harris officiating. Burial was at the Leon Cemetery in Leon, Iowa with Father Christopher Pisut officiating. Arrangements were through Slade-O'Donnell Funeral Home of Leon.

Memorials may be given to All Saints Catholic Church.

Obituary -

(The Leon Journal-Reporter Leon, Iowa December 9, 2009)

JOHN WALTER BUCKINGHAM ... John Walter Buckingham, son of William Bryan and Edna Elizabeth [Mullins] Buckingham, was born May 5, 1927 in Decatur County, Iowa and died at his home on December 2, 2009.

John graduated from Leon High School in 1945. On September 15, 1947 he married Gladys Leona Imhoff at Saint Brendan's Catholic Church in Leon, Iowa. Six children were born to this union: twins Gerald and Gene, Clover Antonia, Roger John, Lois Loraine, and Jewel Kay. The family made their home in Des Moines.

John was employed at Iowa Pack for 19 years. He then worked for Firestone for 20 years, retiring as a supervisor.

Family and music were everything to John, and he played guitar, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle throughout central Iowa.

He was a member of All Saints Catholic Church in Des Moines.

Preceding John in death were infant sons Gerald and Gene Buckingham; daughter Clover Frisk; sisters Elaine Van Pelt and Margaret Hembry; and brothers: Raymond, Charles, and Joseph Buckingham.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Gladys Buckingham, of Des Moines; son Roger Buckingham and wife Joanne of Indianola, Iowa; daughter Lois Duncan of Des Moines; daughter Jewel Nicholson and husband Pat of Des Moines; 5 grandchildren: John Frisk, Robyn Hurd, Bryan Buckingham, Adam Pestotnik, and Sam Duncan; 2 step-grandchildren: brother James Buckingham and wife Sarah of Leon; sister Joan Smith and husband Davie of New Virginia, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Dorothy, Jeannette, and Rosetta Buckingham; brother-in-law Clyde Van Pelt; Gladys' family; nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends.