Gerald Buys

Gerald Buys , 81, of Slayton, MN died on Sunday, April 5, 2015 at his home.   Services will be at 10:30 am on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at the First Reformed Church in Slayton, MN.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be in the Chandler Memorial Cemetery, Chandler, MN.  M ilitary honors accorded by the Chandler American Legion Post and the Slayton American Legion Post.

Gerald Buys was born on February 15, 1934 to John and Johanna Wiekeraad Buys near Chandler, MN.  He was baptized and later made confession of faith at the Chandler Reformed Church in Chandler, MN.   He attended country school and helped his dad farm near Chandler until he enlisted in the U.S. Army, along with his good friend Frank Post, in 1953.  After his honorable discharge, he returned home to marry Berdena Vander Ziel in 1955.  During the first few months of their marriage they lived in Michigan, before moving back to Chandler to begin farming.  Later they lived near Balaton, Lake Wilson, then again near Chandler, before retiring in Slayton in 1983.  Although farming was Gerald’s main occupation, he began trucking in 1979, and enjoyed that for many years.  Gerald was a member of the American Legion of both Chandler and Slayton, and served as elder and deacon at both the First Reformed Church in Slayton and the Chandler Reformed Church. Gerald loved spending time with his family and friends, especially his grandchildren.  He was a great handyman and also enjoyed helping others by blowing snow.  He enjoyed puzzles, collecting John Deere, coffee and shaking dice.

On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2015, Gerald passed away at his home in Slayton, MN.

Gerald is survived by his wife, Berdena; four daughters: Joyce (Ronn) Gunn, Minneapolis, MN; Barb (Darrell) Knapper, Virginia, MN; Carol (Michael) Chapman, Lake Wilson, MN; and Karla (Steve) Gleis, Lake Wilson, MN;  13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sisters: Anna (James) Gorter, Holland, Michigan; Linda (Robert) Schelhaas, Edgerton, MN;  brothers: Herman  (Dorothy) Buys, Hardwick, MN; LeRoy (Patsy) Buys, Chandler, MN; sisters-in-law: Donna Buys, Belle Fourche, SD and Genevieve (John) Vis, Chandler, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Beverly; and brothers, Ed Buys, and Melvin Buys.