Obituary of Rodney Wayne Buren

    Rodney Wayne “Rod” Buren, one of three children of Herman Adrian and Marie (Riemersma) Buren, was born May 13, 1945, in Sanborn, Iowa. He received his education at the Sanborn Community School, graduating with the class of 1964. 

    In January of 1968, Rod began serving his country with the United States Army. Following his honorable discharge in 1970, he returned home and resumed farming. Later on, he would become a member of the Melvin American Legion Post #470 in Melvin, Iowa.

    On Wednesday, November 3, 1971, Rod was united in marriage to Cheryl Plathe in Sanborn where they would spend their entire married life. Their family grew to include two children: Elroy and Wendy.

    Along with his passion for farming, Rod had also been employed with International Paper, Damman Company, Warren Andeson, and Vander Werff and Associates, Inc. located in Sanborn. Farming and his work schedule usually kept him pretty busy, but if there was some down time, he liked to garden with his wife. Having grown up on the farm, Rod had learned to have an appreciation for antique tractors and enjoyed participating in local tractor rides when they were offered. Bowling had been another of his favorite pastimes – even if he wasn’t throwing strikes that night, it gave him a chance to chat with the guys and catch up…and you could always count on a humorous comment or two stemming from his affable nature. Rod never met a stranger – if you thought you were, you wouldn’t be for long.

    On Tuesday, December 12, 2023, Rod passed from this life at Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was 78 years of age. Preceding him were his parents, Herman and Marie Buren; and his sister, Nelvina Popkes.

    Keeping his memory close at heart are his wife, Cheryl of Sanborn, his son, Elroy (Cindy) Buren and their children: Averie, Brylie and Parker all of Rapid City, South Dakota; his daughter, Wendy (Chuck) Vincent and their son, Miles of Montgomery, Texas; one sister, Bev (Jerry) Kreykes; brother-in-law, Dean Popkes; other relatives and many friends.