Errol Lee VanBuskirk Obituary
Errol Lee VanBuskirk, 90, of Benton Harbor, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 26, 2026, at home surrounded by family.
Visitation will begin at 11am Thursday, July 30 2026 concluding with a 1pm celebration of life service, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph.
Memorial contributions may be made to Harbor Habitat for Humanity.
Online condolence may be made at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Errol was born on July 15, 1936, to Carroll and Esther (Kennard) VanBuskirk at home in New Castle, IN. He graduated from New Castle High School before furthering his education at the University of Cincinnati, where he earned his degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Following graduation, Errol began his career with Pyro Electric in Walkerton, Indiana before accepting an opportunity with Whirlpool Corporation in the early 1970s. There, he dedicated more than twenty-five years of service, playing a key role in the construction and start-up of many new manufacturing processes and facilities around the US before retiring in 1997.
On July 12, 1959, Errol married the love of his life, Betty Harris, in New Castle, IN. Together they built a life centered on love, hard work, and family, recently celebrating an incredible 67 years of marriage.
Errol was known for his unwavering devotion to those he loved and his no-nonsense nature. Family and close friends were always at the center of his life. Whether casting a line while fishing, enjoying a round of golf, or cheering on IndyCar racing, the experience was always made better when shared with his dearest friends and family.
Errol was also a very talented woodworker, a skill taught by and passed down from his father. Over the years, he handcrafted countless projects with exceptional care and craftsmanship. Many of his creations were true collaborations, with Betty painting and distributing literally thousands of finished art pieces over many years.
Giving back to others was equally important to Errol. For many years, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in the “Thursday Crew”.
Errol is survived by his loving wife, Betty VanBuskirk; children, Jeff (Mary Beth) VanBuskirk, Julie (Don) Milum and Jay (Kelliey) VanBuskirk; grandchildren, Kevin (Brittany) VanBuskirk, Erin VanBuskirk, Paul (Mallory) VanBuskirk, Mark VanBuskirk, Blake Milum, Colin VanBuskirk, Nathan VanBuskirk and great-grandchildren, Liam and Sophie VanBuskirk. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carroll and Esther; grandson, Andrew Milum and sister, Cheryl (Omer) Auxier.
