Orville Eugene Buikema, 89, of Clinton, IA, died unexpectedly on Monday, November 15, 2021.
Orville was born November 25, 1931, in Morrison, IL, to Richard and Hattie (Byland) Buikema. He was educated in the rural Whiteside County grade schools and graduated from Morrison High School in 1950. He enlisted in the United States Navy and served in active duty during the Korean Conflict, on the USS Bremerton from 1951-1955. At Spring Valley Church in Fulton, IL, he married Evelyn Jane Meinsma on December 9, 1955. She died December 19, 2015. In his early career, Orville was an Assistant Manager at IGA Foods in Morrison and Van’s Supermarket in Clinton. For the next 25 years, Orville owned and operated a Pepperidge Farm franchise and delivered bread and, later, cookies to Eastern Iowa and Southern Wisconsin. After his retirement, he drove a school bus for the Clinton Community School District until 2018.
He was a former member of Spring Valley Reformed Church in Fulton from 1955 to 1964. He then became a member of Community Reformed Church in Clinton, where he volunteered as an Elder, Deacon, Bible study Leader, Sunday school Teacher, and lay Pastor. He participated in Men’s Brotherhood and Couples Club. Orville was a lay Pastor for area churches and provided Ministry and Music at the Sarah Harding Home–Clinton. He was a member of Gideon International and volunteered by serving in leadership positions, giving speaking engagements, and distributing Bibles. He was also a member of the Double-I Antique Auto Club. Orville was an avid reader and loyal Chicago Cubs fan, and he loved his two dogs. He especially enjoyed spending time with family, including his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include his daughters, Joy Buikema (Torgeir) Fjærtoft of Oslo, Norway, and Jill (Patrick) Montgomery of Bettendorf, IA; sons, Joey (Jean) Buikema of Clinton and Jon (Ellen) Buikema of Cedar Rapids, IA; nine grandchildren, Daniel Buikema Fjærtoft (Sigrun Breivik), Thomas Buikema Fjærtoft (Rønnaug Johansen), Michael Buikema Fjærtoft (Suzana Pires Vlachos), Hattie Buikema (Charlie Strickland), Meggie (Payton) Curtis, Noah Buikema, Amanda (Erin) Mullin, Sarah (Troy) Heimsoth, Hannah Montgomery; five great-grandchildren, Tora Evelin Fjærtoft, Ellisiv Gunne Fjærtoft, Sivert Johannes Fjærtoft, Tove Johansen Fjærtoft, and Kieran Patrick Eli Mullin; sisters Frances Damhoff of Morrison, Charlotte Houzenga of Sterling, IL, and Martha (Don) Smith of Morrison; brothers, Richard “Dick” (Ruth) Buikema of Eldridge, IA, Robert “Bob” (Shirley) Buikema of Fulton, Theodore “Ted” (Hazel) Buikema of Rock Falls, IL, and Harold (Laura) Buikema of Dixon, IL.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn, and great-grandson, Beckett Robert Nau.
The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 26, 2021, at Community Reformed Church in Clinton, IA.
A Visitation will be held at the church from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 24, 2021.
The Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Interment will be at Clinton Lawn Cemetery, Clinton, IA.
A memorial to the Clinton Camp of the Gideon Memorial Bible Fund has been established.