Van Buskirk, I. Raymond (Ray) 1914 - 1992

VAN BUSKIRK, HAINES

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/25/2010 at 16:27:25

I. Raymond "Ray" Van Buskirk, Sr., 78, Sioux City, died Friday, Dec. 11, 1992, at his residence after a long illness.

Services were held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ with Rev. Richard Smith officiating. Entombment was in the Logan Park mausoleum under direction of Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel.

Mr. Van Buskirk was born Feb. 19, 1914, in Ireton, Iowa. He attended rural Sioux county school, graduating from Hawarden High School in 1931. He attended Iowa State University and Grand Island Business College.

He and his brother then entered into business with their father in the Van Buskirk & Sons Construction in Hawarden, Iowa. He married Beverly Haines March 12, 1939, in Sioux City. During 1942 the company entered into a contract to ship their equipment to Alaska and take part in the construction of the Alcan highway. Van Buskirk supervised the maintenance of the highway the first winter it was open for traffic. He had been a Sioux City resident since 1957. In 1958, the company was moved to Sioux City. He continued active in the company in partnership with his three sons, Ray, Ronald and Greg and partner I, Richard Clark.

Mr. Van Buskirk was a member of the Associated General Contractors of Iowa, serving as president 1952-1953. He was also a national life director of the National Association of General Contractors of America. He was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, Abu Bekr Shrine Temple, and Adale Lodge 456 AF & AM of Hawarden, now Freedom Lodge 434 of Akron, Iowa.

Survivors include his wife, three sons and their wives, Greg L. and Jill, Ronald L. and T.I. and I. Ray Jr. and Donna, all of Sioux City; two sisters, Mrs. Richard (Beverly) Cook of Lake Okoboji, and Mrs. Don (Bernice Mallette of Doon; grandchildren, I. Ray IV, Brian, Zach, Cindy and Cheri; and a sister-in-law, Bernice Van Buskirk of Chandler, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Warren.

A memorial has been established in his -name with the Iowa State University Foundation.

Akron Register Tribune
Thursday, December 17, 1992
Akron, Iowa