Funeral Services for Ervin Van Buren, age 87, of Norfolk and formerly of O'Neill, will be at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, June 29, 2017, at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill.  Visitation will be one hour earlier at the funeral home.  Burial will be in the O'Neill Cemetery, with Military Rites conducted by the O'Neill American Legion Post #93.  Ervin passed away on Saturday, June 24, 2017 at the Wisner Care Center in Wisner, NE.  Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill is in charge of arrangements.  To leave online condolences, please visit biglinsmortuary.com.

Ervin Leroy Van Buren was born on April 27, 1930, at home near Verdigre, NE, to Ralph and Gertrude Jane (Benedict) Van Buren.  At the age of 8, he moved with his family to a ranch northeast of O'Neill, and attended a rural country school through the 8 ^th grade.  Ervin then worked on the family ranch until joining the US Navy in March of 1948, and served during the Korean War until March of 1951.

Ervin returned to the U.S. after being wounded when the ship he was on, the USS Pirate, sank after striking a mine at Wonsan, Korea in October of 1950. When he was home on leave in 1950 he met Mildred Seger at the roller skating rink in Atkinson, NE.  The two were wed on May 20, 1951 at the Methodist Church in O'Neill.

They lived on a ranch near Atkinson for a time, and their 3 children were born:  Linda Mae, Sharon Kay, and Michael Ervin.  Later on, they moved to O'Neill, then to Wisner and Stanton areas in late 50's, where Ervin farmed. They made their home in Stanton, NE in 1975 and moved to Norfolk, NE in 1980's, where Ervin later retired from Beef America in Norfolk, June of 1995. They moved to the Wisner Care Center, Wisner, NE in March of this year.

Ervin enjoyed many hobbies over the years, such as playing basketball and being a boxer while stationed in the Philippines with the Navy. He liked to fish and hunt, especially catfishing and pheasant hunting, and he enjoyed camping.  He also was an avid Husker fan, and made Husker lawn ornaments for family and friends. The visits from his grandchildren and great grandchildren was his favorite enjoyment. He was a member of the V.F.W. in Stanton and Norfolk, NE.

Ervin is survived by his wife, Mildred, three children;  Linda Hoehne and husband, Donald, of Laguna Vista, TX, Sharon McQuistan and husband, Gayle, of Wayne, NE, Michael Van Buren and wife, Shelly, of Billings, MT, nine grandchildren; Donald Hoehne, Jr.  and wife, Krista, Laura Tatpati and husband, Abraham, Christina Hendrix, Teresa Mick and husband, Jessy, Sheryl Salmons and husband, Alex Garcia, John McQuistan, Francesca Davis and husband, Jerry, Jacqualyn Van Buren and husband, Steven Milledge, Raschelle Drumheller and husband, Brad, 12 great grandchildren; Nathaniel, Alexander, and Abigail Tatpati, Brett and wife Shantel, Tom, and Matthew Hendrix, Siera and Cailee Brugger, Emil and Emily Davis, Jordan Milledge, and Britton Drumheller, three siblings;  Marvella Jonas and husband, Robert, of Kernersville, NC, Wilma Buckles of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Willard Van Buren of Ashland, NE; and one sister-in-law, Vivian Van Buren of O'Neill, NE, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Ralph Van Buren Jr. and wife, Etta, Donald Van Buren;  three step brothers, Paul Benedict, Wayne Butler, and Carl Butler; and brother-in-law Frankie Buckles.