Gerald W. "Bud" Bakken, 84, of Zion, Illinois, died on Friday, January 8, 2010 at home, surrounded by all of his family.

Bud was born November 7, 1925 in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota and moved to Zion in 1953. A Veteran, Bud served with the United States Army during World War II. He was a 50 year member and very active in Beach Bible Church where he co-founded the Awana Club in 1961. He retired in 1989 from Liquid Controls in North Chicago after 35 years. Bud was active in Gideon's International and he enjoyed wintering in Harlingen, Texas for the past 20 years.

Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Beatrice "Bea"; children, David (Kathy) Bakken of Ingleside, Illinois, Joan (Ken) Boyce of Beach Park, Illinois, Keith (Laurie) Bakken of Park Ridge, Illinois and Bruce (Carolyn) Bakken of Kenosha, Wisconsin; thirteen grandchildren, Sarah (Nathan), Rian (Bill), Justin (Stefanie), Chad, Tyler, Desiree, Julia, Tommy, Alison (Josh), Ashley M., Ashley N., Brandon and Brittany; eight great-grandchildren, Cole, Elle Bea, Jayden, Brooklyn, Lucy, Logan, Landon and Cash; and siblings, Olivia Church of Seattle, Washington, Ferdinand Bakken of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota, Arleen Wahlstrom of Pelican Rapids, Minnesota and Loretta (Jerry) Harr of San Jose, California.

He was preceded in death by one son, Thomas in 1956; one brother, Garfield; five sisters, Eunice, Evelyn, Ellen, Ardis and Myrna; and his parents, Thorwald and Gusta Bakken.

Visitation will be Monday, January 11, 2010, from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. at Beach Bible Church, 3520 21st Street, Zion. A funeral service and celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, January 12th, at 10:30 a.m. at Beach Bible Church with Pastor James Wychers officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, Zion. In lieu of flowers, donations to raise funds for his great-grandchildren, in Bud's memory, may be made by logging on to www.buildwiththeboyces.com.