George Buckingham, age 88, of Isanti died July 28, 2010 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 P.M. Saturday, July 31st at Faith Lutheran Church in Isanti with Rev. Phil Gotsch and Rev. Robert Venneman officiating. A visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 P.M. Friday, July 30th at Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel and also one hour prior to the funeral Saturday at the church. Interment will be in Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley.
George Hillery Buckingham was born January 14, 1922 in Princeton, Minnesota to Lloyd and Mary (Kurkowski) Buckingham. The family moved to Hillman where he was raised and attended school. George served in the Civilian Conservation Corps from April 7, 1939 to March 28, 1941. He then served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II from August 17, 1942 through November 29, 1945. After the service he came back to Hillman and then moved to Hibbing. On February 11, 1950 he married Vivian Pearson in Hibbing. They made their home at Side Lake near Hibbing and they then moved to Fridley for a short time. In 1957 the family moved to a farm near Long Lake in rural Isanti and they attended Long Lake Lutheran Church. George was a heavy equipment operator and mechanic and was a member of Local Union 49. After he retired, in 1980, they moved to Waskish in northern Minnesota where they would live for 20 years and attended Bethlehem Lutheran Church. In 2001 they moved back to Isanti where they attended Faith Lutheran Church. In earlier years, George enjoyed, hunting, fishing, taking the family camping and he also taught gun training at a local gun club. George loved being a Foster Grandparent at the Isanti Primary School and he really enjoyed the children. He was a charter member of the Isanti VFW Post and he was a volunteer driver for the VA when they lived up north.
George passed away at his home on July 28, 2010 at the age of 88 years, 6 months and 14 days.
Besides his parents he was preceded in death by three brothers; one sister; and by one grandson, Eric.
George is survived by his wife, Vivian of Isanti; five sons, George R. (Tiara) of Shannon, North Carolina, Brian (Sandy) of Cambridge, Robert (Judy) of Little Falls, Peter (Karen) of Waconia, Richard of Isanti; one daughter, Karen (Perry) Caraway of Princeton, Kentucky; by 25 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one brother, Raymond (Janice) of Sebeka; and by many other relatives and friends.
Truly sorry for your loss. George was the “Grandpa” while my kids and I were enrolled in an Early Childhood class at Isanti Primary. The kids looked forward to seeing him in the rocking chair, and one time, he held my then one year old in his lap and read her a story.
It is always sad when we lose a loved one, but I pray that you can be proud of the fact that he was kind and loving, and he will be rewarded in heaven, and right now he is joyfully at peace in his eternal home with God.
In Christ,
Megan
Todd losing a loved one is always tough. Please read Romans 8:28. It helped me. My prayers go your Family.
Respectfully
Keith Stephenson
HST