Wilford A. (Bud) DeVries, age 90, of Gun Lake, died Friday, Nov. 13, after a short battle with COVID-19.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sydney, in 1996, after 39 years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by his second wife, Theresa, in 2017.
Wilford was a United States Marine, having served in the Korean Conflict. After leaving the military, he worked at Leedy Manufacturing for a number of years. Then he moved on to work for General Motors Corporation as a machinist, for 25 years, before he retired. Wilford was honored by Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who in 2005 personally awarded him a Purple Heart for injuries sustained in battle during the UN Offensive into North Korea.
Wilford enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening at his home near Richland where he had acres of strawberries and asparagus. After he married his second wife, they moved to the Gun Lake area where he enjoyed fishing and getting together with family and friends to play cards.
Wilford is survived by his sons Scott (Vicky) DeVries, Steven (Linda) DeVries, David (Carolyn) DeVries, Dean (Alicia) DeVries, and Dale (Penny) DeVries; and stepsons Roger (Mary Jane) Merren, Ronald (Cathy) Merren, Robert (Darla) Merren, Richard (Janet) Merren, Randell (Mary Jane) Merren and Russell (Beth) Merren. He is also survived by a brother, Norman (Shirley) DeVries; sister-in-law, Marie (Joe) Rybiski; and brother-in-law, Philip (Lavonne) Chenier.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Wayland VFW Post #7581 or the Dorr American Legion Post #127. A memorial service and fellowship will be held in the spring of 2021.
