John Cornelius Van Buren, age 86, of Victor, Iowa, passed away surrounded by family on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Brooklyn Community Estates.

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Victor Baptist Church, with a luncheon to follow at the church. Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 18, 2026, at Smith Funeral Home in Victor. Burial will be held at a later date at Hartwick Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to East Iowa Bible Camp. Memorials and cards may be mailed in care of Smith Funeral Home, P.O. Box 485, Victor, IA 52347.

John was born on September 1, 1939, in Royalton, New York, to Edward J. and Hazel M. (Sims) Van Buren. One of eleven siblings, John was raised on his family's farm in Lockport, New York. He graduated from Akron High School in New York in 1956. He honorably served in the United States Army from 1962 to 1964. Following his military service, he began driving for the Greyhound Bus Line.

John was united in marriage to Judith "Judy" Ann Smith on August 29, 1964, in Hagerstown, Maryland. They later moved to Hartwick, Iowa, where John worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation for 28 years before retiring in 2001. Following retirement, he enjoyed helping his son-in-law with farming.

John enjoyed gardening, mowing, and watching NASCAR. He took many memorable trips to famous raceways, including Talladega, Bristol, and Daytona. Above all, his greatest joy was spending time with family. He cherished attending his children's and grandchildren's sporting events.

John relied deeply on his faith. He was a devoted member of Victor Baptist Church, volunteered at East Iowa Bible Camp, and was also a member of the Victor American Legion.

John was kind and caring, with a jovial and gentle nature that was somewhat atypical for the Van Burens, though he still possessed an ornery streak.

John is survived by his wife, Judy, of Victor; his children, Dawn (David) Tallman and their children Jonathan (Emily) Tallman, Michael (Alex Shiffer) Tallman, and Rachel (Ben) Coulter; Eric (Heidi) Van Buren and their children Terra (Brandon) Phelps, Saxon (Ashley) Van Buren, Bailey Van Buren, and Nate (Mallory Hester) Van Buren; and Tracy (Darrell) Schafbuch and their children Morgan (Tyler) Dietrich, Jacob (Tiffany) Schafbuch, Brandon (Brittney) Schafbuch, and Emma (Koley Kelly) Schafbuch. He is also survived by one brother, James (Darlene) Van Buren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Hazel Van Buren; brothers Morris, Charlie, Frank, and Duane; and sisters Lorraine, Alice, Doris, Grace, and Jane.