3/29/2021 7:13:00 AM Funeral service for Donald "Buck" Amos March 31 at Zion
The funeral service for Donald "Buck" Amos, 89, a longtime Stewartville resident will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville with Rev. Byron Meline and Kim Kyllo officiating.
Mr. Amos died at home surrounded by his family on Friday, March 26, 2021 from complications of Alzheimer's/dementia.
Don was born on Jan. 18, 1932, in Quincy Township, Minnesota near Whitewater State Park to Alvin and Lillian (Zimmerman) Amos. He moved with his family to rural Pleasant Grove where he attended country school, before moving with his family to Stewartville when he was 11. He graduated from Stewartville High School in 1950. He was active in many sports throughout his childhood. Don worked with the family painting business before opening Color Center Paint Store on mainstreet in Stewartville. He also was employed as a laborer on the original Mayo Clinic building project in downtown Rochester.
Don married Janice Geerdes on Aug. 16, 1958 in Oronoco, and they made their home in Stewartville. In 1961 they built their "new" home in Stewartville where they raised their family, hosted many family holidays and get-togethers and have continued to live. Don was the owner and operator of Amos Painting until he retired and his son, Brian, took over the business. Janice was a homemaker and was employed at Fleet Farm for a number of years until she retired.
Don was a longtime active member of Zion Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and taught Sunday school. He also volunteered with the Stewartville Fire Department for 23 years, eight of which he was the fire chief. He helped start the original group of first responders in the state of Minnesota while on the Fire Department and continued to train new EMTs in the area for many years. Don also served on the Stewartville City Council and park board, where he was the driving force in establishing the Sunset Prairie Nature Preserve at Bear Cave Park. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to share nature with his family. This included many trips to the Boundary Waters that started in 1950 with his children and eventually his grandchildren. A legendary walker he would go birding with friends (Doc Risser!) all over the state of Minnesota and was a member of the Audubon Society. He raised bees and sold Buck's Honey for nearly 50 years and tapped maple trees and made syrup for many years. Don and Janice enjoyed traveling together including bus trips, going on cruises and a trip to Hawaii. Don traveled to all 50 states after he was finally able to travel to Alaska where he had always wanted to go. He was a Stewartville Tigers fan and supporter and always enjoyed following his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren's school and sporting activities. He enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors and loved time spent with family.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Janice; their five children, Gina Amos of Rochester, Brad (Leann) Amos, Brian Amos, Becky (Abraham) Algadi, and Jerome (Kim) Amos all of Stewartville; 10 grandchildren, Shayna (James Kellner) Amos, Chelsy Amos, Nicole (Luke) Lonien, Megan Amos (Randy Oftedahl), Jacob (Janna) Amos, Mikya Amos, Heather (Zach) Tesdahl, Jason Hanson, Petra Algadi, Luke Aswegan (Karin Gray) and 13 great-grandchildren, Joel, Vandon, Kaiden, Isabella, Jamarion, Jaxon, Emma, Owen, Alea, Jack, Emma, Lily, and Morgan; and his sister, Bonnie Gathje of Pine Island.
He was preceded in death by his parents, grandson, Jeremy Crowson, his brother, Ike Amos and five sisters, Helen Gusa, Charlotte Johnson, Myrle Taylor, Millie Liskov and infant sister, Vera.
A time of visitation for family and friends will take place from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 30, 2021 at Zion Lutheran Church, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday afternoon. Masks will be required and safe social-distancing protocols will be in place.
Donations for a memorial bench in Buck's name at Sunset Prairie/Bear Cave Park can be made to the city of Stewartville or donations to Season's Hospice are welcome.
Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray Funeral Home in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of Don are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com.
A live stream of Don's funeral service can be viewed by going to his obituary on the Griffin-Gray Funeral Home website at 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 and clicking on the following link - https://my.gather.app/remember/donald -amos
