Ron "Buddy" Vanoverbeke
d. December 5, 2015
Ronald “Buddy” Julius VanOverbeke was born August 7, 1931 on the family farm south of Minneota, to Arthur and Josephine (Jennen) VanOverbeke. The family moved to the farm by Cottonwood/Green Valley on March 1, 1932, and then the Williams farm in 1945.
Growing up, Buddy helped out with the family farm, milking cows at age seven, driving tractors at age eight, and pitching bundles at 13. Buddy would tell stories of walking to country school as a kid. He graduated valedictorian from Cottonwood High School in 1949,
Buddy was baptized and confirmed in the catholic faith. He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army from October 15, 1952 to his separation date of October 14, 1954. He was honorably discharged on September 30, 1960. During his service years, he was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
On a very cold winter day, at the age of 26, he was united in marriage to Delores Molitor at St. Clotilde Catholic Church in Green Valley. Bud and Dee first settled at the Williams farm south of Cottonwood, and later, in 1967, they moved to the Windey Farm west of Hanley Falls, purchasing it in 1972. To their union, 8 children were born: Terry, Jeff, Connie, Cecelia Ann, Roxanne, Lorie Jo, Jason, and Lisa Marie.
They farmed for many years. Each fall, the brothers would combine for crop harvest. Bud was also employed as a foreman at A.M.P.I in Dawson. He would speak about Delores never failing to make him breakfast before work every morning for 25 years.
Bud was involved in many activities and hobbies throughout his life including: playing half of a year of high school football and lettering, 4-H, Knights of Columbus, American Legion. Bud was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he was active with the fall festival working the ticket booth and the bingo tent. He also enjoyed bowling leagues (high game 273 in 1966), playing cards, hunting, waterskiing, shooting pool, gardening, fishing, reading, playing accordion and listening to polka music, his favorite being the Blue Skirt Waltz, shelling corn, riding horses, and watching baseball, football, and basketball.
Buddy enjoyed going on drives to look at the crops, visiting with family and friends, playing cards, eating ice cream, enjoying the outdoors, watching the Twins, Vikings, and Timberwolves, telling stories of adventures and days gone by, reading the paper, and spending time with his family, children and grandchildren.
Earlier this year, Bud was diagnosed with LGL Leukemia, and then on October 7, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig disease). Buddy passed away on December 5, 2015 in St. Cloud at the age of 84.
Bud is survived by Delores, his wife of 57 years; 6 children: Terry of Hanley Falls, Jeff (Sheila) of Granite Falls, Connie (Steve) Donner of Wabasha, Roxanne (John) Crowson of St. Paul, Jason of Rochester, Lisa Marie (friend Kris) of Danube; six grandchildren: Chad, Michael, Johann, Rihanna, Amy and Ashley. 5 great grandchildren: Brailee, Myracle, Jake, Amber, Meghan, and Isaiah; siblings: Vince (Lou) VanOverbeke, Audrey (George) Bakker, Marlen (Judy) VanOverbeke; brother-in-law: Rich Bot; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Josephine, daughters: Lorie Jo, and Cecelia Ann in infancy; grandson: Bradley (Buddy’s little buddy); brothers, Francis, Jimmy, Jerome in infancy; sisters: Phyllis and Doris. Blessed be his memory and the many each of us share.
Growing up, Buddy helped out with the family farm, milking cows at age seven, driving tractors at age eight, and pitching bundles at 13. Buddy would tell stories of walking to country school as a kid. He graduated valedictorian from Cottonwood High School in 1949,
Buddy was baptized and confirmed in the catholic faith. He served as a corporal in the U.S. Army from October 15, 1952 to his separation date of October 14, 1954. He was honorably discharged on September 30, 1960. During his service years, he was stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Fort Devens, Massachusetts.
On a very cold winter day, at the age of 26, he was united in marriage to Delores Molitor at St. Clotilde Catholic Church in Green Valley. Bud and Dee first settled at the Williams farm south of Cottonwood, and later, in 1967, they moved to the Windey Farm west of Hanley Falls, purchasing it in 1972. To their union, 8 children were born: Terry, Jeff, Connie, Cecelia Ann, Roxanne, Lorie Jo, Jason, and Lisa Marie.
They farmed for many years. Each fall, the brothers would combine for crop harvest. Bud was also employed as a foreman at A.M.P.I in Dawson. He would speak about Delores never failing to make him breakfast before work every morning for 25 years.
Bud was involved in many activities and hobbies throughout his life including: playing half of a year of high school football and lettering, 4-H, Knights of Columbus, American Legion. Bud was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he was active with the fall festival working the ticket booth and the bingo tent. He also enjoyed bowling leagues (high game 273 in 1966), playing cards, hunting, waterskiing, shooting pool, gardening, fishing, reading, playing accordion and listening to polka music, his favorite being the Blue Skirt Waltz, shelling corn, riding horses, and watching baseball, football, and basketball.
Buddy enjoyed going on drives to look at the crops, visiting with family and friends, playing cards, eating ice cream, enjoying the outdoors, watching the Twins, Vikings, and Timberwolves, telling stories of adventures and days gone by, reading the paper, and spending time with his family, children and grandchildren.
Earlier this year, Bud was diagnosed with LGL Leukemia, and then on October 7, he was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig disease). Buddy passed away on December 5, 2015 in St. Cloud at the age of 84.
Bud is survived by Delores, his wife of 57 years; 6 children: Terry of Hanley Falls, Jeff (Sheila) of Granite Falls, Connie (Steve) Donner of Wabasha, Roxanne (John) Crowson of St. Paul, Jason of Rochester, Lisa Marie (friend Kris) of Danube; six grandchildren: Chad, Michael, Johann, Rihanna, Amy and Ashley. 5 great grandchildren: Brailee, Myracle, Jake, Amber, Meghan, and Isaiah; siblings: Vince (Lou) VanOverbeke, Audrey (George) Bakker, Marlen (Judy) VanOverbeke; brother-in-law: Rich Bot; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Josephine, daughters: Lorie Jo, and Cecelia Ann in infancy; grandson: Bradley (Buddy’s little buddy); brothers, Francis, Jimmy, Jerome in infancy; sisters: Phyllis and Doris. Blessed be his memory and the many each of us share.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ron "Buddy" Vanoverbeke, please visit our flower store.