1928
Robert
2021
Robert Buri
March 28, 1928 — August 31, 2021
Robert Buri
On August 31, 2021, at the age of 93, Robert “Bob” Buri was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He passed away peacefully within minutes of telling others he “felt just fine.”
Bob was born on March 28, 1928, in Konolfingen, Switzerland to Christian Buri and Marie Fankhauser-Buri. He was the youngest of ten children: Hans, Christian, Frieda, Elizabeth, Ernst, Mariann, Walter, Rose, Gertrude, and Robert. He grew up on a working farm, which was beneficial in Switzerland during WW2. He served as a First Lieutenant in the Swiss Army after the war, where he was responsible for a platoon which transported armaments into the mountainous terrain by horse and mule. He also received a farming degree from the Schwand-Münsingen Agricultural School.
In 1952, Bob and his brother Walter set sail for New York on the Queen Elizabeth. Bob worked for his uncle and aunt on the Fankhauser family dairy in Madison, Wisconsin, and stayed “two winters” before moving to Downey, California, where he worked at Ruchti Brothers (Meat Packing), worked weekends at the Switzerland Restaurant, received his GED, and sold Real Estate. In 1955, Bob vacationed in Switzerland, and met Emma Bänziger while riding a train. They courted, corresponded, and then Emma came to America, and they were married in Downey in 1957.
Bob and Emma had three sons: Ed, Mark, and Sam. They moved to Roseburg Oregon in 1962 based on a doctor's recommendation, because Roseburg didn't have smog, earthquakes, or weather extremes. They purchased a 15-acre farm on Cleveland Rapids Road and began the “Swiss Nursery” while Bob also worked at US Plywood (later Champion International). The 1962 Columbus Day storm devastated plastic houses they had just built, and the 1964 Christmas Flood washed away their barn, cattle, and almost their house. Fortunately, the house remained, and the family was rescued by boaters.
Bob's life was transformed in 1972, when he surrendered his life to Jesus. He no longer just attended church, but he began sharing his faith. He supported numerous ministries, distributed “Our Daily Bread” booklets, and was active with the Bill Glass Prison Ministry, with many prison trips, and many letters with prisoners. His faith was real, yet he readily admitted his shortcomings.
Bob lived a full life. He is survived by his wife Emma, and his three sons Ed, Mark, and Sam with their families, including eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren: Ed and wife Suzie, with grandson Greg and granddaughter Julie. Mark and wife Stephanie, with granddaughters Julia, Heidi, and Siena. Sam and wife Sarah, with granddaughters Katherine, Stephanie, and Michelle.
Bob has been described as honorable, dependable, steadfast, and faithful. In a 1995 letter to his family, he wrote “stability, integrity, and character is something I tried to let the Lord build in me for some time now; and hope that HE will be able to complete it before HE calls me home. Bob was a model of those attributes, and God has finished HIS work!
A memorial service will be held at Wellspring Bible Fellowship, October 30, 2021, at 3 PM. Face coverings are encouraged. If you are unable to attend in person, join us by livestream ( http://wbf.church/ ).
On August 31, 2021, at the age of 93, Robert “Bob” Buri was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He passed away peacefully within minutes of telling others he “felt just fine.”
Bob was born on March 28, 1928, in Konolfingen, Switzerland to Christian Buri and Marie Fankhauser-Buri. He was the youngest of ten children: Hans, Christian, Frieda, Elizabeth, Ernst, Mariann, Walter, Rose, Gertrude, and Robert. He grew up on a working farm, which was beneficial in Switzerland during WW2. He served as a First Lieutenant in the Swiss Army after the war, where he was responsible for a platoon which transported armaments into the mountainous terrain by horse and mule. He also received a farming degree from the Schwand-Münsingen Agricultural School.
In 1952, Bob and his brother Walter set sail for New York on the Queen Elizabeth. Bob worked for his uncle and aunt on the Fankhauser family dairy in Madison, Wisconsin, and stayed “two winters” before moving to Downey, California, where he worked at Ruchti Brothers (Meat Packing), worked weekends at the Switzerland Restaurant, received his GED, and sold Real Estate. In 1955, Bob vacationed in Switzerland, and met Emma Bänziger while riding a train. They courted, corresponded, and then Emma came to America, and they were married in Downey in 1957.
Bob and Emma had three sons: Ed, Mark, and Sam. They moved to Roseburg Oregon in 1962 based on a doctor's recommendation, because Roseburg didn't have smog, earthquakes, or weather extremes. They purchased a 15-acre farm on Cleveland Rapids Road and began the “Swiss Nursery” while Bob also worked at US Plywood (later Champion International). The 1962 Columbus Day storm devastated plastic houses they had just built, and the 1964 Christmas Flood washed away their barn, cattle, and almost their house. Fortunately, the house remained, and the family was rescued by boaters.
Bob's life was transformed in 1972, when he surrendered his life to Jesus. He no longer just attended church, but he began sharing his faith. He supported numerous ministries, distributed “Our Daily Bread” booklets, and was active with the Bill Glass Prison Ministry, with many prison trips, and many letters with prisoners. His faith was real, yet he readily admitted his shortcomings.
Bob lived a full life. He is survived by his wife Emma, and his three sons Ed, Mark, and Sam with their families, including eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren: Ed and wife Suzie, with grandson Greg and granddaughter Julie. Mark and wife Stephanie, with granddaughters Julia, Heidi, and Siena. Sam and wife Sarah, with granddaughters Katherine, Stephanie, and Michelle.
Bob has been described as honorable, dependable, steadfast, and faithful. In a 1995 letter to his family, he wrote “stability, integrity, and character is something I tried to let the Lord build in me for some time now; and hope that HE will be able to complete it before HE calls me home. Bob was a model of those attributes, and God has finished HIS work!
A memorial service will be held at Wellspring Bible Fellowship, October 30, 2021, at 3 PM. Face coverings are encouraged. If you are unable to attend in person, join us by livestream ( http://wbf.church/ ).
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Robert Buri, please visit our flower store.
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