Gail Marie Buyze passed away Saturday, May 30, 2026 at her home after a 14 -year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was 77 years old.
Gail was born February 14, 1949, in Sheboygan, the daughter of John and Anna Marie (Bohlander) Knowles. She graduated from Elkhart Lake-Glenbeulah High School in 1967 and went on to study at UW-Sheboygan.
On November 6, 1971, she was united in marriage with Jay Buyze at Glenbeulah Methodist Church. Gail and Jay shared 54 wonderful years of marriage, building a home rooted in unconditional love and warmth. As a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, she poured her heart into her family, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful memories that spanned more than five decades.
Armed with a strong work ethic, Gail was an industrious woman who worked many different jobs to help meet her family’s needs. She became a helpful, familiar presence at Knowles Manufacturing, Mountain Screenery, Oostburg Christian School, the Onion River Wastewater Treatment Facility, and doing bookwork for the family business.
Gail is a member of Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church where she actively served and attended Bible study. She enjoyed gardening, sewing, painting, and camping. She adored her kids and grandchildren.
Gail is survived by her husband Jay and their daughters: Angela “Angie” (Andrew) Weber, Katherine “Katie” (Angel) Buyze-Sanchez, Julie (Patrick) Dirkse and Mary (Jon) Van Wylen; grandchildren John, Lily, Jacob, Samantha, Sierra, William, Peter, Joshua and Adrianna; sisters Nancy (Richard) Mussehl, Rhode (Mike) Popelka, Sue Ann (Bill) Rathman; brothers John Knowles (Brenda Larsen); sister-in-law Carol (Don) Kernwein; brothers-in-law Stan (Ann) Buyze and Roger (Linda) Buyze; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Gail is preceded in death by her parents, John and Anna Marie Knowles; parents-in-law, Adrian and Marion Buyze; sister, Mary (Tom) Martineau; and sister-in-law, Judy Buyze.
Funeral Services will be held at 2:00PM on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at Hingham Church. All are welcome to view a livestream of the funeral on Gail’s obituary page at wenigfh.com. The family will receive visitors at the Wenig Funeral Home, 108 Center Ave. in Oostburg, on Monday, June 8, 2026, from 4:00-8:00 PM and again on Tuesday from 1:00-2:00 PM at Hingham Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested in her name to Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Hingham Church, or City Church of Compton.
Wenig Funeral Home – Oostburg (920-564-2771) is assisting the family with arrangements. Please visit wenigfh.com for online condolences.
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