Norvel Van Dyke

Norvel Milton "Mit� Van Dyke, Sr.
Mit Van Dyke went to join his beloved wife of 56 years, Doris, on May 30, 2003. Memorial Services will be 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2003 at Speaks Buckner Chapel. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. until the time of service. He fought as long as he could to be sure that his family was taken care of. He was a veteran of World War. II. Mit had received many awards over the years for his community service and involvement. He was a founding member of the Fort Osage High School Booster Club and, with the help of a coach and his family, built the first track at Fort Osage High School. He was recognized several times for his service to the school district. He was a Master Gardener with Missouri Extension and had served as treasurer for Jackson County Extension Council. He founded a little league baseball program for boys in Buckner. Mit worked as a volunteer teacher with the Laubach Literacy Program, and volunteered as recently as this spring as a guest speaker at Fort Osage High School. He was recognized as the head of the Jackson County Farm Family of the Year by then Governor John Ashcroft. He was treasurer of the Hall�s Memorial Reunion Committee. He was active in amateur athletic programs for years. Mit enjoyed nothing more than the outdoors and knew where all the best mushroom spots were. He found and collected arrowheads and shared them with the patrons of the library in Buckner. He volunteered his time in assisting senior citizens in Buckner with their income taxes. He officiated at high school games for the Missouri State high School Activities Association. He was a pilot trainer on Link Trainer for the Air Force. He retired from Honeywell as a Senior Process Engineer. With his wife, children and grandchildren, Mit owned and operated Van Dyke�s Christmas Trees for 38 years. He will be greatly missed by his children, Phylis Van Dyke-Perrin and her husband, Allen, and Norvel Milton "Buzz� Van Dyke, Jr. and his wife, Jann. He was loved and will be missed by his grandchildren, David Keith, Lonna Aileen, and Geoffrey Kenneth Jones and future wife, Sarah Kernes, Jeremy Todd Van Dyke and future wife, Haley Brannan, Bethany Laura Van Dyke, and step-grandson, Christopher Allen Perrin and his future wife, Tina. His great-grandson, R.J. already misses his PaPa. His departure from this life also saddens his many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and the multitude of people in the community who loved and respected him. The only thing that lessens our loss is his conviction that he will now be with his wife forever.