LORRINE C. VAN BUSKIRK

Wasilla resident Mrs. Lorrine Catherine Van Buskirk, 85, died at home of natural causes April 27, 2004.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held Friday, April 30 at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Wasilla. Fr. Kaspar Mallavarapu officiated. Burial followed at Wasilla Aurora Cemetery. Pallbearers were Billy Van Buskirk, Lucas Van Buskirk, Wiley Van Buskirk, Kale Van Buskirk, Kenneth Van Buskirk and Michael Van Buskirk.

Mrs. Van Buskirk was born December 12, 1919, in New Haven, Iowa.

She was a high school graduate.

Mrs. Van Buskirk served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Moses Lake, Wash. She had lived in Belfair, Wash. for 30 years before moving to Alaska in 1995.

Mrs. Van Buskirk was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Her hobbies included knitting, gardening and bird watching. Her special interests were her grandchildren.

Her family wrote, "She was a kind and gentle wife, mother and grandma who had a quiet sense of humor. She was loved and will be missed."

Mrs. Van Buskirk is survived by her husband, Frances Van Buskirk; children and their spouses, Kenneth and Peggy Van Buskirk, Michael and Annelies Van Buskirk, Bill and Toni Van Buskirk and Barbara and Gary Humphreys; brothers, Norman and Garland Fox; sisters, Leone Fox and Mary Leazer; grandchildren, Stephanie, Earl, Lucas, Wiley, Megan, Haley and Kale and great-grandson, Peyton.

Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska, Mat-Su Valley Services, Trinity Barn Plaza, P.O. Box 4406, Palmer, Alaska 99645.

Arrangements are with Valley Funeral Home in Wasilla.