Ira Raymond "Ray" Van Buskirk Jr.

  Ira Raymond “Ray” Van Buskirk Jr., 79, of Sioux City, IA passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 at a Sioux City hospital.

   A Celebration of Life and Sharing of Memories will be 7 p.m. Thursday, December 2, 2021 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel (3220 Stone Park Blvd.) in Sioux City.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

  Ira Raymond “Ray” Van Buskirk Jr., the son of Ira Raymond and Beverly V. (Haines) Van Buskirk, was born March 24, 1942 in Hawarden, IA.  Ray grew up and attended school in Hawarden until he was a teenager.  He then moved with his family to Sioux City and he attended Central High School where he graduated in 1960.  Following high school, Ray attended Wentworth Military Academy and School in Lexington, MO then went to Iowa State University for one year.  Ray served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War until his honorable discharge.  He returned to make his home in Sioux City.

   Ray worked with the family business Van Buskirk Construction for several years.  In addition, the family operated the Sioux City Landfill and Ray worked there for many years until his retirement.

   On May 21, 1982, Ray was united in marriage to Donna Rae Smith in Minnesota.

   Ray truly loved spending time at his family’s cottage at Lake Okoboji.  His hobbies included boating, fishing, golfing, bowling, and traveling to Florida.  Ray was an avid Kansas City Chiefs fan and Iowa State Cyclones fan.

   He is survived by his wife, Donna of Sioux City; four children: Cindy (Marty) Gruis of Sioux City, Raymond Van Buskirk IV of Sioux City, Cheri (Tony) Butts of Pearland, TX, and Brian (Kate) Van Buskirk of Sioux City; seven grandchildren: Ashley and Haley Gruis, Cydney Sulzbach, Hannah and Connor McCline, and Cody and Ana Van Buskirk; two brothers: Ronnie (Ti) Van Buskirk of Sioux City and Greg (Jill) Van Buskirk of Sioux City; nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.

   He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law, Marisa Van Buskirk.