Raymond Van Buskirk

Raymond Van Buskirk, 94, died peacefully Wednesday, December 8, at home on his farm. Raymond Luther Van Buskirk was born on the family farm near Fithian on May 26, 1916, the son of Luther and Nellie (Cannon) Van Buskirk. He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Elaine Pichon Van Buskirk in 1992. He is survived by his two daughters Bonnie (Don) Dodson of Northborough, MA and Judith Elaine (Charles) Gugudan of Beverly Hills, FL; four grandchildren Bruce Juran of St. Joseph IL, Raymond Craig (Anne) Dodson of Shrewsbury, MA, Ian (Tammy) Juran of Lakeville, MN and Donna Elaine Dodson of Jamaica Plain, MA and four great-grandchildren; Elizabeth Elaine Juran and Amanda Ray Juran of Lakeville, MN and Sam Dodson and Trevor Raymond Dodson of Shrewsbury, MA. He was educated at small country schools, Little Giant and Black, and attended Ogden schools through the 9th grade. He graduated from Oakwood Township High School in 1932. He farmed for over 50 years on the rural Fithian family farm, an Illinois Centennial farm, established by his grandfather Daniel D. Van Buskirk in the 1870s. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a 50+ year member of the Ogden Masonic Lodge #782. He was a Past Master of Ogden lodge. He was a member of the Gao Grotto in Danville for many years. He was a noted coin collector, rare coin dealer and appraiser of coins. He was a member of the Champaign-Urbana Coin Club, the Rantoul Coin Club and an over 50-year member of the Danville Coin Club. He designed the medals for the Ogden Centennial and the Fithian Centennial celebrations. He began playing contract bridge in his 20s and continued until he reached 91. He played duplicate bridge at the Hotel Wolford in Danville and traveled extensively to play bridge. He achieved the ranking of Life Master by the American Contract Bridge League in the mid 1960s. He was elected to the Oakwood Township High School Board and served as member and later as Chairman. He was a life-long member of the Ogden Christian Church and over the years served on the Board of Deacons and in many other capacities. He later worshipped at the Hope UCC Church when the congregations began meeting together. He was a life-long euchre player and always amazed each generation by knowing exactly what every hand held after the first trick was played. He was a terrific fisherman. He and Elaine and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren fished in Canada many, many summers. He traveled to Sioux Lookout in Western Ontario fifty-six summers for the walleye fishing. Calling hours are 5:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, December 13, 2010 at Sunsets Oakwood Chapel in Oakwood, Illinois. The funeral will take place at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 14, 2010 at Hope UCC Church in Hope, Illinois. Burial will follow at Stearns Cemetery in Fithian, Illinois. Online condolences www.sunsetfuneralhome.com