Daniel M. Buerskin, age 83 of Lake St. Croix Beach, MN passed away at home with his family at his side on Feb. 19, 2015.
Dan was born at home in Urbank/Parkers Prairie, MN on June12, 1931. He attended school and worked on the family farm. He started working at Armour and Company as a Millwright Mechanic and went home on weekends to help farm. He was an avid motorcyclist and had many in his lifetime. Harley’s were his favorite. He met and married his wife of 59 years, Carolyn and lived in Inver Grove Heights for 2 years. He built his home in St. Croix Beach while working at Armour’s and moved there with his wife and children 55 years ago, and passed away in this very home.
He was a gifted man in building and making things work. He helped many people with their cars and trucks – not just fixing them, but teaching them. He was an accomplished gardener and had remarkable produce every year. He was always going for the tallest and the biggest! He took the family on adventures in the Big Green Bus he put a Cadillac engine into to get better mileage and power. After checking out the beauty of MN, he and the family helped get things cleared for McBride’s Campground in Remer, MN. Many amazing times were spent camping there; eventually parking the bus and spending the whole summer there. He worked during the week and came up north every weekend. He taught family and many friends to water ski. He loved boating, snowmobiling, hunting, and all kinds of fishing winter or summer. Every year the whole family (and anyone else) met for a fishing weekend up north until a few years ago. Lots of love, laughter, and seeing who would catch the biggest Northern, and delicious fish fry’s!
After the kids were grown, Dan and his wife traveled all over the US in their camper. Eventually they ended up in a Villa in Green Valley, Arizona during the winters and back to St. Croix Beach in Spring. A highlight of their traveling was spending a month in Alaska. Danny was an inspiration during his illness; keeping an upbeat spirit all the time this past year; always turning everything into a challenge and achieving many victories. He said recently to his family and friends, “I’ve had a good life. I’ve done everything I wanted to do. I’m happy.”
He is survived by his wife Carolyn; children Barb Buerskin, Dianne Halvorson, Michael Buerskin, and Clare Ferguson; 7 Grandchildren – Danny E. Buerskin and wife Britt, Amanda Halvorson Grussing and husband Aaron, Joe Barrata and wife Ashley, Elizabeth Halvorson, Tim Buerskin, Tony Buerskin, and Jacob Buerskin-Kleman; 4 great grandchildren Calista, Zion, Carson and Ethan; sister’s Loretta Nygaard, Clementine Tryggestad and Josephine Erickson; brothers and sisters-in-law; many nieces and nephews; and many good friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Bradley John and his son-in-law DuWayne Halvorson; his parents; three sisters; and three brothers in infancy.
Mass of Christian Burial 2 pm, Sat. Feb. 28, 2015 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 16770 13th St. S, Lake St. Croix Beach, MN. A time of visiting will be held 1 hr prior to the 2 pm Mass at church. Services are with the O’Connell Funeral Home. (715) 386-3725. www.oconnellfuneralhomes.com