Buikema III, Arthur Louis

Arthur Louis Buikema III, better known as “Trey,” passed away at his Bailey, Colorado home on April 26, 2023 at the age of 42 years. Trey was preceded in death by his brother Andrew Carl. He was survived by his wife, Margaret Frances nee Cox and children: Lyla Elisa and Arthur Louis IV aka “Rocco”. His father from Blacksburg VA, Arthur L. Buikema Jr, mother, Carolyn E. Thorsen, and step-mother, Mary Alison Galway, have also survived him as did nine of his siblings: Ami Lynne Pearse, Jill Catherine Aukofer, Jane Kimberly, Eric Thorsen, Matthew Lewis, Sarah Carolyn Kerr, Rachel Marion Friend, David Thorsen and Jessie Elizabeth.

Trey lived a full life that included training as a forest fire fighter, a building contractor and a marijuana cultivator. He loved to travel especially to the Mediterranean region and to learn and experiment with new things. He was an optimist and he possessed a very independent spirit. After getting his GED he went on to become certified for home construction while living in South Carolina, a passion that he nurtured after he moved to Colorado. While growing marijuana he studied plant genetics and cultivation techniques in the Netherlands, Colombia and Japan.

He was proud of his wife and children and he excitedly called his father to tell him that they were having a son who will carry on the family name. When Trey was born the doctor told his parents that according to his biometrics Trey would be 7 feet and 7 inches tall, a prediction that he did not like. There was a great grandfather on his mother’s lineage who was 7 feet tall, a professional wrestler known as the “Terrible Swede.” When he passed away, Trey was 6 feet and 5 inches tall. He was diagnosed with a de novo mutated gene, SCN9A Nav 1.7, that caused his pain receptors to fire at random often keeping him in perpetual foot pain.

There will be a celebration of his life at noon on Saturday, September 23, 2023. The service will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation located at 1301 Gladewood Drive, Blacksburg VA. If you wish, please make a donation in his name to the Interfaith Food Pantry or a charity of your choice. Thank you.