Delbert 'Buzz' Raymond Hummel

Surrounded by close family, ‘a guy by the name of’ Buzz (Delbert) Hummel, passed away Tuesday, March 11th, at his home in Morris, MN due to heart & lung complications and a well-lived 87 years.

Buzz was “hatched on a fencepost” and baptized June 6th, 1937 in Redwood Falls, MN to Raymond and Erna (Gilb) Hummel. He grew up in Walnut Grove, MN where his street smarts quickly outgrew his need for formal education, leaving the 9th grade to operate earth-moving equipment with his dad. He enjoyed classic cars and rock & roll music with his friends.

On a sunny December day in 1956 he married his childhood sweetheart Barb Byers, with whom he enjoyed 32 years and two children before her passing in March of 1988. In June of 2001, he remarried to Chris [Bisping] Hopkins in Morris, MN and started parenthood all over again with her 4 children.

Buzz started driving commercial trucks at 22, and didn’t stop until over 5 million miles later on his 87th birthday, having driven all 49 continental states and all but 1 Canadian Province. He absolutely loved meeting people, swapping stories, and sharing jokes along the way. When he wasn’t operating 18 wheels he loved to ride motorcycles, play cards, spend time with family, camping, and falling asleep with the remote in his hands.

He was preceded in death by his first wife Barb, his parents, sisters Darlene (Lloyd) Haring, Elvera (Vic) Kohlnhofer, and Beverly (David) Zinter, his brother Glenn, Chris’s parents Roy & Irene Bisping and brother Richard.

He is survived by his wife Christine; siblings Gene “Butch” (Evie Farr) Hummel, Annie Hummel, Diane Bisping, Marnie (Neal) Glessing; children Ray (Joyce) Hummel, Bernie (Bob) Hayes, TJ (Kay) Hopkins, Tad (Kirstin) Hopkins, Trevor (Athena Aitken) Hopkins and Shandi (Tom) Zelinske; grandchildren Chad (Steph) Hummel, Amy Hummel, and Leah, Ben, Luke, Kinsley, Taylor, and Theo Hopkins; great-grandchildren Kylie (Trevor), Mariah (Matt), Emilee, and Makenzee; and great-great-grandchildren Kaysen and Aubree. With Buzz’s prodigious family tree, there are nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends too numerous to list.

A funeral will be held Thursday, March 20th at 12:00 noon at Faith Lutheran Church in Morris, MN with visitation starting at 9:30 am and light lunch to follow the service. Please bring your favorite Buzz stories and memories to share. Private internment will be held in Walnut Grove later this year.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family suggests that you make a donation to your favorite non-profit or charity. Two of Buzz’s favorites were the Special Olympics and Hospice Care.