Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Buskirk

Ronald E. Buskirk passed away on October 18, 2012.

Ron was born on August 9, 1925, in Hastings, Nebraska to Mary Ruth and Edgar Arnold Buskirk. He grew up in Juniata, Nebraska, and graduated from Juniata High School in 1942. He attended the University of Nebraska for one year prior to enlisting in the United States Army Air Force in September of 1943. He served as a navigator on a B-24 Liberator for two years prior to being honorably discharged in November of 1945. Ron enrolled in Hastings College in January of 1946, and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. While at Hastings College, Ron met Jeanne Ruth Bancroft during the first fall mixer of her freshman year. They were married on August 16, 1948, in Omaha, Nebraska. Ron and Jeanne moved to Chicago where he received his Masters of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary and Jeanne completed her degree in Education at Roosevelt University.

Ron began a career of service in the ministry for the Presbyterian Church USA spanning sixty years. During those years he served five churches full time and, for thirteen years, was the Executive Presbyter of Southern Kansas Presbytery. He also received his Doctorate in Ministry from McCormick Seminary on June 11, 1985. He retired in 1989, but continued to serve as an interim pastor in churches as well as an interim Executive Presbyter.

Ron is survived by his wife, Jeanne (Lawrence), and their three children, Linda Sue Niles and her husband Stephen (South Sioux City, Nebraska), Steven John Buskirk and his wife Debbie, (Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida), and Paul Raymond Buskirk and wife Lauren (Lawrence). He is also survived by seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Professionally, Ron will be remembered and respected for his ability to encourage and unite pastors and lay leaders in service to the church. He was a caring, supportive and loving husband and a kind and generous father. His love and dedication to his family and his steadfast faith in God were the hallmarks of his life.

Friend and family are invited to a celebration of his life on Monday, October 22, 1012, at 2 pm at the First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, Visiting Nurses, or Lawrence Memorial Hospital Oncology Department, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Indiana St., Lawrence, KS, 66044.