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Vance A. (Mike) Buzzard, 81, of Beecher City formerly of St. Joseph, passed away peacefully at home on June 14, 1008.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday in the Beecher City Church of Christ with Rev. Dennis Warner officiating. Visitation will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at the church with Masonic rites. Graveside services will be at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday in the Mt. Hope Cemetery in Champaign. Memorials may be made to the Beecher City Church of Christ or the donor’s choice. Arrangements are by Lockart-Green Funeral Home, Beecher City.
Mike was born December 7, 1926 in Beecher City, Illinois to Mary Little and Paul (Ted) Buzzard.
He graduated from Beecher City High School. He served his country in the US Navy from 1944 to 1947 as a fireman on the USS Knapp and USS Hyman and as a Seabee in Iceland. In 1948, Mike started a 37-year career working for Illinois Bell Telephone Co. He married Ruth Anne Martin on December 30, 1949 who precedes him in death. They had five children together. Mike was an active member of the St. Joseph United Methodist Church and Boy Scout Troop 40.
On June 29, 1982, Mike married Bonnie Lee Julius Little and moved to Beecher City in 1985. Mike was an active member of the Beecher City Church of Christ, Kluthe Center Card and Coffee Club and C.E.F.S., where he was named “Volunteer of the Year” in 2004. Mike was a member of the masons and consistory for 56 years and was a 32nd Degree Mason. He was active in St. Joseph Lodge 970 and the Greenland Masonic Lodge 665 in Beecher City. Mike enjoyed his family and life, participating in several morning coffee gatherings in both St. Joseph and Beecher City. He will be remembered as “the telephone man”, storyteller, listener and friend but mostly as a loving father, step-father and grandfather.
Mike is survived by his wife, Bonnie; children, Richard and Alice Buzzard of Alton, Candace and David Widick of St. Joseph, Eric and Lyna Buzzard of St. Joseph, Julie Buzzard of Velarde, NM and Andrew Buzzard of Champaign; step-children, Brenda Phelps of Loogootee, Debbie and Robert Grubaugh of Altamont, Daniel and Debbie Little of Beecher City and Ray and Lori Little of Bethany; grandchildren, Jarrod Widick, Daniel Widick, Keith Buzzard, Michael Buzzard, Travis Buzzard, Kristopher Buzzard, Amber Strauch, Virgil Strauch, Sonja Little, Dakota Little, and Ben Little; great-grandchildren, Bryce Morrison, Jaimie Morrison, Breeanna Strauch and Dalton Strauch.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, two sisters, one brother and granddaughter, Alena Buzzard Harper.
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