Larry David Buckreus

Mom and Dad are still living so their birth and marriage information are confidential.

Born in Hartford, Dad moved to Indiana at the age of 9, but spent his summers in his home town so the close ties to his roots were undisturbed. He and his cousin, Paul Buckreus, are more like brothers and Dad remembers many of the family stories from his youth.

Dad interrupted high school to serve in the Navy during the last 18 months of World War II. After finishing high school he graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, Ilinois. Mom and Dad met at college when friends set them up on a blind date.

Dad has always enjoyed sports and outdoor activities. As a boy, he liked to fish and hunt, had a trap line, played baseball and more. With a Bachelor's degree in Physical Education, his first post-graduate job was with the YMCA. As a child I loved to go squirrel hunting with Dad in the spring and to check the trapline early on Sunday mornings in the winter. Today, he's an avid fly fisherman and hikes several times a week.

Working at the YMCA may have been fun, but it didn't support a growing family, so Dad made a career change and went to work for Western Electric in Illinois. In the early 1960's he was transferred to a facility in California, remaining with the company until retirement.

Besides taking my brothers and myself fishing, hunting and trapping, he participated in organized activities with us. He started a group of Y-Indian Princesses and was a Little League coach for many years. When we were young, we loved the night Mom went to choir practice because that was Dad's Night. We ate popcorn while watching Maverick on TV, and we would do gymnastics. Dad would lie on the floor and we would stand on his upraised palms. It was great fun! In the winter he would show us how to make an igloo or build us a snow camel to ride, and we would ice skate and toboggan together.

He and Mom were active in church while we were growing up. Mom was a member of the choir and women's groups, and would occasionally fill in as organist. Among other things, Dad was supervisor of the Sunday School. For special occasions, Mom would make us matching dresses to wear to church. She was a very accomplished dressmaker. Her creativity had other outlets as well. We always had the most incredible Halloween costumes. She spent weeks on them! And at Christmas every year there was a beautiful new addition to the outdoor decorations. Mom's latest hobby is miniatures. She has built the most incredible collection of doll house rooms you've ever seen. Besides the typical bedrooms, dining room, etc., there's a patio/garden, old fashioned general store, music room and much more.

Dad retired several years, and remains very busy. They still live in the house they bought in the 1960's, and Dad continues to do all the gardening and much of the upkeep and maintenance of the house. He golfs, hikes and fishes on a regular basis.

Larry David Buckreus

Ruth Elaine Goranson

Children of Larry Buckreus and Ruth Goranson: