December 10, 1931 – April 20, 2021

A memorial service for Theodore (Bud) Van Peursem, 89, of Leota, Minn., was held on Friday, April 23, 2021; 10:00 a.m., at Bethel Reformed Church in Leota with Pastor Leroy Boender, Pastor Ron Van Peursem, and Pastor Ryan Van Peursem officiating. Committal service was by Robert Ossefoort.

Music was provided by organist Glenda Van Hill; special music, Safe In The Arms Of Jesus, was sung by Connie and Dan Abersen; Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone was sung by Koni De Kam and Tori Van Peursem.Congregational hymns were How Great Thou Art and Because He Lives.

Pallbearers were Ron Van Peursem, Ryan Van Peursem, Brandon Van Peursem, T.J. Van Peursem, Joshua Ossefoort, Isaac Ossefoort, Levi Ossefoort, Marty Van Peursem, and Mason Sanborn.

Honorary pallbearers were Rachelle Vande Griend, Tori Van Peursem, Jaime Danks, and Brooke Sanborn.

Theodore (Bud) Howard Van Peursem went to be with his heavenly Father on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. He was born December 10, 1931, on a farm south of Leota, known as the Jongetjes farm. He was the 4th child born to Walter and Ida (Pronk) Van Peursem. He attended country school through the 7th grade. He had multiple jobs, working on the family farm, helping neighbors with harvesting, driving truck for Cornie Ruiter, and moving houses, until he left to serve in the Korean War from 1952-1954.

Theodore got the nickname “Bud” at an early age from a neighbor girl who came to help the family with household chores. The nickname stuck with him over his 89 years.

He was united in marriage to Joann Prins on February 16, 1956, at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church. Their first home was on a farm 4 miles southeast of Leota. In 1956, they moved to a farm 4 miles southwest of Chandler, where five of their children were born. Five years later they moved to the family farm 7 miles southeast of Chandler and had their sixth child. They stayed on the farm until 2002, when they retired and moved to Leota.

In February Bud and Joann were blessed to celebrate their 65th wedding anniversary with their children.

Bud was a faithful member of the Bethel Reformed Church of Leota all his life. He served on the church council as deacon.

Bud loved crop and cattle farming. After retirement, he continued to help on the family farm until well into his late 80’s. It’s true that you can take the farmer off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the farmer. Even in his final days Bud talked about the work that he needed to do on the farm.

Bud is lovingly remembered by his wife, Joann; and children, Douglas and Brenda, Leota, Bonnie (Bob) Ossefoort, Woodstock, Eugene and Laura, Edgerton, Bruce and Betty, Chandler, Ivan and Marilyn, Chandler, Patty (David) Sanborn, Savage, Minn.; sister, Rosella Calcagne, Murrieta, Calif., sister-in-law, Irene (Tony) Beyenhof, Ontario, Calif.; sister-in-law and husband, Eileen and Willard Sankey, Edgerton; brother-in-law, Daryl Prins; 13 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Irene; siblings and their wives, Morris and Dorothy Van Peursem, Elmer and Harriet Van Peursem; brother, Melvin; brother-in-law and wife, Peter and Gertrude Prins; brothers-in-law, Wilbur Kooiman and Frank Calcagne; and a great-granddaughter, Summer Lydia Van Peursem.