Mail Tribune
Medford, Oregon
Saturday, February 28, 2009


George John Van Buskirk

George John Van Buskirk, 94, passed away at his home in Crescent City, Calif., Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009. George was born on July 19, 1914, in Los Gatos, Calif. As a child, he lived in Josephine and Klamath Counties of Southern Oregon and Siskiyou County California, working along side his parents and siblings to make it through the Depression. He graduated Klamath Union High School in 1932. After high school, he served in the Oregon National Guard at Fort Stevens with D Battery, 249th Coastal Artillery.

In 1935, he married Greta Ruth Lange and they had two sons. Prior to the outbreak of WWII, he worked as a Pioneer Cat operator, building roads in Northern California and Southern Oregon. During WWII, George served in the U.S. Navy SeaBees in the South Pacific, with the First Marine Raiders, where he was seriously wounded in the Solomon Islands campaign. After the war, George returned to Siskiyou County, where he worked for the Manpower Commission, helping to find employment for the returning soldiers, ultimately becoming the Northern California District Manager of the California State Employment Office. He was a life member of the VFW Post 3813 in Yreka, and the DAV, where he served as an NSO assisting veterans to obtain their veteran's benefits. He retired in 1972.

George loved fishing, hunting, rock hounding, and gardening.

George was preceded in death by his wife, Greta, in 1992; and eldest son, Harlan, in 2008. He is survived by his sister, Ellen Hegler, of Ashland, Ore.; brother, Carl Van Buskirk and wife, Marge, of Medford, Ore.; son, L. Roger Van Buskirk and wife, Deanna, of Central Point, Ore.; daughter-in-law, Blanche Van Buskirk, of Yreka, Calif.; sister-in-law, Lilo Lange, of Yreka, Calif.; first cousin, Vivien Henderson, of Crescent City; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

At George's request, no services are planned. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local VFW. Arrangements are under the direction of Wier's Mortuary Chapel of Crescent City, CA.


--- --- ---

1930 census Klamath Co., OR; Klamath Falls, ward 3
GEORGE W. VANBUSKIRK, 44, marr. at age 23, PA, PA-PA; tailor, cleaner, own establishment
Marie F., wife, 36, CA, Italy-Italy
Wesley, son, 20, CA, PA-CA; clerk, electic company
GEORGE, son, 15, CA, PACAA
Ellen, dau., 13, OR, PACAA
Allen, son, 4, CA, PACAA

1920 census Santa Clara Co., CA; Redwood Twp.
G. MINO, 68, imm. 1872, NA, na 1873, Italy, Italy-Italy; farmer, fruit farm
Josephine, wife, 58, imm. 1879, na, Italy, Italy-Italy
GEORGE W. VANBUSKIRK, son-in-law, 35, PA, PA-PA; farmer, general farm
Marie F., wife, 28, CA, Italy-Italy
Westley J., son, 10, CA, PACAA
George Jr., son, 5, CA, PACAA
Marie E., dau., 3, CA, PACAA


1910 census Santa Clara Co., CA; San Jose, ward 1
GEORGE W. Van Buskirk, 25, PA, PA-PA; cleaning establishment, own place
Marie F., wife, 20, CA, Italy-Italy
Wesley J., son, 6m, CA, PACAA