Thelma Buckham

Thelma Louise (Parsell) Buckham passed away unexpectedly in her home on April 18, 2020, three days after her 90th birthday on which she was able to share a wonderful video chat with many of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She claimed it was her "best birthday ever!" and she passed with a joyful heart, and perfectly content with her very full life. Thelma was born in St. Clair Shores, Michigan on April 15, 1930, the youngest of eight children. On April 30, 1949, she was united in marriage with George Kingsley Buckham and moved to Buckham Farms in Oshtemo, where they worked the farm with their four children and George's twin brother, Fred. George and Thelma wrote one of the great love stories for 56 years, until his death in 2005. Thelma was also a devoted mother and grandmother and a kind and selfless neighbor and volunteer. She was an accomplished artist, seamstress, gardener, baker, and award-winning homemaker. Her gentle and work-worn hands delivered triplet lambs, canned bushels of peaches, kneaded bread dough, sowed seeds, and sewed sheep blankets and party dresses for her grand-daughters. She was actively involved in the Oshtemo 4-H Club and Kalamazoo County 4-H for over 70 years and continued to host 4-H meetings in her home. In 2003, she became a member at Valley Family Church. In her mid-80s, she became a Valley Family Church volunteer where she greeted everyone with a warm and friendly smile. In return, she received dozens of hugs and loving conversations. With the help and close friendship of Merial Messer, "Tuttie", Thelma was able to independently live her life in the home that she loved and where she and George made a wonderful life together. Her smile brought joy to all who were blessed with her company, and she will be dearly missed by her friends and family. Thelma is survived by four children, Gail (Carl) VanderKolk of Dorr, George (Kathy) Buckham of Schoolcraft, Jeff (Julia) Buckham of Schoolcraft and Brian (Susan) Buckham of Richland; 19 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Private burial has taken place in Genessee Prairie Cemetery. A service to celebrate Thelma's life will be held later this year. Services are entrusted to Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 622 S Burdick St, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. To view Thelma's personalized web page, please visit https://www.langelands.com