Visitation: Friday, February 13, from 5 - 7 pm and Saturday, February 14, from 1 - 2 pm at Stroo Funeral Home, followed by the service at 2 pm
Service: 2 pm Saturday, February 14, at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Memorials: The Alzheimer's Association, 4081 Cascade Rd SE, #400, Grand Rapids, MI 49546 alz.org, 

Women at Risk,  2790 44Th. SW, Wyoming, MI  49519  https://warinternational.org/

or International Justice, PO Box 90580, Washington, D.C. 20090 ijm.org

​Calvin "Cal" D. Buist, age 77, of Byron Center, MI arrived in his heavenly home on Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

Cal was a proud graduate of South Christian High and Grand Rapids Baptist College (Cornerstone University). He worked as a butcher, baker, and… conveyor engineer, and was thrilled to creatively solve problems. Cal had a warm smile, only encountering a stranger for a brief moment before they became a friend. He had a passion for life, loving to play sports and travel with his family. He delighted in ice cream, a good pun, and finding a perfect hat.  In his early years, he could be found in the muck fields of Byron Center. As an adult, he enjoyed creating with stained glass and making walking sticks. He always found a way to make a short story long.

Cal and his wife, Mary, liked to do puzzles, take walks along Lake Michigan, and travel in order to spend time with their children and grandchildren. Cal’s ultimate passion was his devotion to Jesus. In addition to serving in the churches he attended, he served for a year in Ecuador working to show the love of God.

Cal will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered by his wife of 55 1/2 years, Mary; his children, Jenelle (Rich Robles), JulieAnn (Shad Thomas), Nate Buist, and Kathryn Buist (Caitlin Vives); eight grandchildren, CalliAna, Mariella, Parker, and Elliana Robles, as well as Louisa, Kai, Adelaide and Noa Thomas; sisters, Joy (Bill Lokker) Mary (Al TerHaar), Faith (Rog VandenBerg), Carole (Dave Van Ee), Rainelle (Tom Jansma), Nancy (Paul VanderWeide); sister-in-law, Ardith (Bill Wylie); and many nieces and nephews.

Cal was greeted enthusiastically in Heaven by his son, Nate; his parents, Frank and Flossie Buist, and his step-mother Grace; as well as his in-laws, Floyd and Goldie Albers.  He was also welcomed by other friends and family members.

All of his family and friends treasure their memories of him, and are sure he is enjoying the best peaches and ice cream heaven has to offer!  He is remembered for his kindness, jokes, and the sparkle in his eyes.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 13, from 5 to 7 PM at Stroo Funeral Home, also, Saturday, February 14, prior to the service from 1 to 2 PM.  The funeral service will be held at 2 PM, Saturday, February 14, at Stroo Funeral Home, 1095 68th St SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508, with Phil West and Jeff Mihave officiating.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in memory of Cal may be made to Alzheimer's Association, Women at Risk, or International Justice Mission.