May 18, 1936 – January 29, 2026
Verlyn Walter Buls, 89, of Tripoli, died Thursday, January 29, 2026, at The Highlands (Aase Haugen) in Decorah.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM, Monday, February 2, 2026, at St. John Lutheran Church in Frederika with Rev. Evan Meester officiating. Interment will be at Fremont Cemetery, rural Tripoli. Visitation will be from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM, Sunday, February 1st at Becker & Son Funeral Home in Tripoli and for one hour preceding services at the Church on Monday.
Verlyn Walter, son of Otto and Viola (Biermann) Buls was born May 18, 1936, in Waverly, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. John’s United Church of Christ (Siegel) rural Waverly. Verlyn received his education at a Country School, rural Waverly. On May 27, 1960, he was united in marriage with Phyllis Humbert in Preston, Minnesota. Verlyn spent most of his professional career as a bulk truck driver starting his career at Dillavou Oil Co. and later working at Sam Annis & Co., Anderson Erickson and lastly Ferrellgas. Later in his working career, he worked at Premier Auto Wash in Waverly, where he retired from. Verlyn worked for the Bremer County Conservation for several years and was a member of Faith United Church of Christ in Tripoli, where he served on the church council. He enjoyed playing Schafkopf with his friends, tractor-pulls, going for walks, gardening, and was an umpire for fast pitch softball games. Verlyn also enjoyed attending all of his children and grandchildren’s activities and loved playing pranks on his family especially for the Easter egg hunt.
Verlyn is survived by his wife Phyllis of Decorah (The Highlands); daughter, Karin Jones of Nashville; daughter-in-law, Karen Buls of Cresco; grandchildren, Amanda (Derek) Thevenot, Tonya (Dustin Pierce) Burns, Michael (Erica Fielding) Jones, Steffany Buls, Jordan Buls, Abby Buls, Alicia Rink; great-granddaughter, Allison Klassen; brother, Virgil (Doretta) Buls of Tripoli; sister, Darlys Scully of Parkersburg; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family members.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sons, Michael Buls, Verlyn Buls, Jr. “Butch”, and Perry Johnson; sister, Delores (Lawrence) Heinemann; and brother-in-law, Ed Scully.
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