Dr. Max Anthony Van Buskirk, Jr.

Dr. Max Anthony Van Buskirk, Jr, 93, completed his life journey at Messiah Village, Mechanicsburg, PA on December 26, 2025.

Born on June 27, 1932 in Winfield PA, Max was the son of Janet Geise Van Buskirk and Max A. Van Buskirk, Sr. In his formative years, he learned to hunt, fish, and trap—pastimes he subsequently shared with some of his children. He helped his mother run a small turkey farm and later found work with his grandfather’s construction business where he developed an aptitude for woodworking and carpentry.

Upon completing 8th grade at the one-room schoolhouse in Kelly Township (Union County), Max attended Lewisburg High School where he was active in sports and choral music, often as a featured vocalist. The coincidence of alphabetical seating in the classroom sparked a lifelong friendship for Max with the young woman seated behind him, Mary Jane Webber.

Max and Mary enrolled at Bucknell University in 1949. The first in his family to attend college, Max commuted by bicycle and worked part-time while majoring in biology. Both he and Mary participated in the Chapel Choir. Max left Bucknell after three years to enter the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine. He and Mary were married on August 30, 1953.

In 1956, Max completed his veterinary studies at Penn and returned to Lewisburg where he was instrumental in building and then owning the Lewisburg Veterinary Hospital, a mixed practice for large and small animals.

Max proved to be an able and curious surgeon, often employing state-of-the art procedures to care for sick or disabled pets. He was active in professional associations, serving as president of both the United States Animal Health Association and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. In 1965, he traveled with a group of veterinarians in a People-to-People Tour of veterinary establishments in Europe and the USSR.

In 1980, Max was appointed the Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry for the state of Pennsylvania, a position he held for seventeen years. In 1983-1984, he successfully addressed a serious avian influenza outbreak as co-director of the state/federal task force, earning him recognition as PVMA Veterinarian of the Year. He later served on the USDA Secretary’s Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal Diseases and, at retirement, was honored with the PVMA Distinguished Veterinary Service Award

Through the years, Max remained active musically, singing in the Susquehanna Valley Chorale, performing in a barbershop quartet, and lending voice to the church choirs at St John’s UCC in Lewisburg and the Colonial Park UCC in Harrisburg.

An avid outdoorsman interested in wildlife preservation and land management, Max planted thousands of trees and built miles of trails over his lifetime. In 1965, he purchased land in western Union County with a vision for what it might become. Beginning with nothing more than fields and trees, Max worked tirelessly with family members to create a place where four generations have gathered to celebrate birthdays, a wedding, reunions, holidays and, most often, time together. It was indeed Max’s “happy place.”

Max cherished his time with each family member, demonstrating an uncanny ability to be present for young and old alike. A great storyteller, he was always available for a game of cards and remained a formidable Scrabble player until the end. He was also an accomplished woodworker and made furniture/toys for each of his children, grandchildren and most of his great-grandchildren, much of it from wood he harvested himself.

Max always appreciated Frank Sinatra’s rendition of “My Way.” Reflecting on his life in his later years, he found comfort in knowing he had done it “his way.”

Max is survived by five children, Peter (Mischelle) of Lancaster, Margaret of Lemoyne, Ruth Skonecki (Edmund) of Mechanicsburg, John (Laurence) of Worton, MD, and Mark (Michelle) of Richmond, IN; fifteen grandchildren, Jennifer Eaton (Jeff), Heidi Van Buskirk (Liz Peitzman), Kyle Van Buskirk (Krista), Taiyo Asano (Karena), Mori Asano, Aaron Skonecki, Owen Skonecki, Rachel Skonecki, Leo Van Buskirk, Luc Van Buskirk, Tess Van Buskirk, Ethan Van Buskirk, Christian Max Van Buskirk, Maia Van Buskirk and Danielle Dafler; nine great-grandchildren, Callen Wendler, Sophia Eaton, Carys Eaton, Avery Peitzman-Van Buskirk, Juniper Peitzman-Van Buskirk, Niko Asano, Rumi Asano, Otis Van Buskirk and Noah Callahan; a brother, William Van Buskirk (Conesus, NY) and sister, Annette Weiser (Lewisburg, PA); and a brother-in-law, William R. Webber (Burlington, NC).

Max was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Mary Jane Webber Van Buskirk, sister Joan Gemberling, brother Clayton (“Cork”) Van Buskirk and grandson Jonathan Skonecki.

A celebration of Max’s life will take place at 11:00AM on January 31 at the Colonial Park United Church of Christ in Harrisburg preceded by visitation with family at 10:00AM. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Max Van Buskirk's memory may be made to Messiah Lifeways Endowment for Benevolent Care.