Vernon Buchanan

Vernon Knight Buchanan, beloved husband, daddy, grandpa, brother, and friend, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on December 9, 2025. He lived a simple life filled with devoted trust in His Lord Jesus Christ and faithful commitment to his family.

Born March 31, 1944, Vernon grew up on a dairy farm as the 6th of 8 children. As a boy, he walked a mile each day to a one-room schoolhouse, and later, attended Bridgeport High School. Following graduation, he served his country as a conscientious objector at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis and then moved to Oak Park, IL, where he served the Lord at Bible Truth Publishers. During his time in Chicago, he met and married the love of his life, Bonnie Hendricks. Vernon worked at BTP for 7 years during which Beth, Amy, and Steve were born. He then moved his family to a small farm near Allendale, IL. Many happy memories were made on the family farm affectionately known as Hilltop Haven. Among the most special was the addition of a 4th child, Laura Lynn.

Vernon worked tirelessly on his farm: baling hay, raising calves, planting crops, and milking cows twice a day for his brothers on their dairy farm. He loved the soil and created many special memories with his family through gardening, growing raspberries, picking apples, freezing peaches, and raising sweet corn. He spent 41 years on the farm before his failing health caused him to sell the farm and move near his daughter in American Falls, Idaho.

Vernon loved people well through all the seasons of his life: his family, extended family, the assembly in Lawrenceville, believers at First Baptist Church of Mt. Carmel, Allendale neighbors, Mt. Carmel friends, people of Aberdeen, and his family of caregivers from Power County Nursing Home in American Falls. Wherever he went, he found joy in sharing his faith in Jesus Christ, and he quietly encouraged many people by his genuine walk with his God.

Though a strong and hard-working man, Vernon also had artistic talent displayed both in his beautiful piano playing and landscape paintings. He valued good books and often read to his family after suppertime.

Above all, Vernon loved the Word of God and trusted in the Lord Jesus. He read the Bible daily to his family and was known by others for his kind humility, gentle spirit, and quiet stability.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Bonnie; 4 children, Beth (Jon) Kilcup, Amy (Peter) Abadeer, Steve (Lisa) Buchanan, Laura (John) Tysor; 20 grandchildren; 1 great grandson; 3 brothers, Ed (Linda) Buchanan, Tim (Mary) Buchanan, Philip (Joanna) Buchanan. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Phebe Buchanan; 2 sisters, Phebe Brown and Patricia Maurer; and 3 brothers, Ralph, Gerald, and Teddy Buchanan. Vernon has left a legacy of faith and an eternal inheritance for his children and grandchildren. He will be deeply missed, but his family rejoices he is home with Jesus.

A visitation will be from 9:00 – 10:45 a.m. on Monday, December 22, at the meeting room in Aberdeen. The funeral will follow beginning at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Homestead Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to visit DavisRoseMortuary.com to order flowers, or to share condolences, memories, and photos.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the following ministry:  Bible Truth Publishers, 59 W Industrial Rd. Addison, IL. 60101.