Betty Lou Burggraaf's Obituary
Betty Lou Burggraaf passed away on Tuesday, February 26, at the Alverno Care Center in Clinton.
A memorial service and celebration of Betty’s life will be 11:00 am, Monday, March 4, 2019 at the Clinton Chapel of Snell Zornig funeral home. Interment will be in the Rock Island National Cemetery in Rock Island, IL. Serving as pallbearers will be her grandsons.
Betty was born September 18, 1925, in Numa, Iowa, to Roy and Faye Howell. She graduated from New Sharon High School as salutatorian of her class. Betty married Russell Burggraaf on June 20, 1943, in New Sharon before he shipped out to Germany during WWII, and they celebrated 55 years of marriage. To that union were born sons James, Jon and Daniel. Betty worked in several financial institutions in Clinton County, IA, before becoming a homemaker.
With an eye for beauty and a creative flair, she was an accomplished seamstress, making clothing for herself and her family as well as making quilts and fabric artwork. She also painted numerous art pieces depicting landscapes, birds and flowers.
Betty was a devoted Christian, having attended Moline Gospel Temple for many years and was a charter member of Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Moline, IL. She lived in Bettendorf for 46 years before moving to Clinton in 2015.
She will be greatly missed by her sister, Ruth Davenport, of Coalinga, CA, her son James (Patricia) of Lawrenceville, GA, her daughter-in- law Sharon (wife of Jon) of Clinton, IA, former daughters-in-law Diane Wheeler of Clinton and Rhonda Foltz of Snohomish, WA, grandchildren Susan (Mike) Andresen of Lawrenceville, GA, Douglas (Camila) Burggraaf of Lawrenceville, GA, Mark (Mindy) Burggraaf of Fulton, IL, David (Jennifer) Burggraaf of Dripping Springs, TX, Dustin (Jessica) Burggraaf of Nashville, TN, Nathan (Kim) Burggraaf of Lakeville, MN, Paula (Matt) Pisney of Marshalltown, IA, Juliana (Stosch) Sabo of Mason City, IA, Steven (Carlene) Burggraaf of Snohomish WA, Nicholas Burggraaf of Snohomish WA, 19 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Russell, brother William Howell and sons Jon and Daniel.
The family would like to thank Mom’s caregivers at the Alverno in Clinton. She was very happy there.
Donations may be made to Cornerstone Christian Fellowship.
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