Mary Burgers

Mary Burgers, 85 Hawarden, IA died Wednesday, December 22, 2010 at the Hudson Healthcare Center. A visitation will be held Sunday from 2-6PM, with the family present from 2-4PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A prayer service for family and friends will be held Monday at 9:30AM at Memorial Funeral Home with interment to follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A memorial service will be held Monday at 11AM at the Carmel Reformed Church of rural Rock Valley with Rev. Mark Heijerman officiating. The Burgers family prefers memorials be directed to the American Cancer Society. Mary Van Galen Burgers was born on March 24, 1925 to Herman and Hattie (Loverink) Van Galen in rural Rock Valley, IA. She grew up in the Inwood, IA area and attended country schools through the 8th grade and then worked on the family farm. From 1943-1947 Mary moved west and lived in various locations. She lived and worked in California at a JCPenney store, in New Mexico at a tie factory, and in Colorado at a steel mill. She returned to Rock Valley and worked at Foppe's General Store until she married. Mary was united in marriage to Henry Anthony Burgers on January 27, 1948 at her parent's home in Rock Valley. Mary and Henry lived and farmed by Lester, Rock Valley and Sioux Center, before moving to rural Hawarden in 1957. Mary resided on the farm until she entered the Hudson Healthcare Center on November 12, 2010. Mary enjoyed writing letters, doing crossword puzzles, reading her Bible and devotionals. She loved spending time with her family and was a friend to everyone she met. Mary is survived by a son, Gary of Hawarden; three daughters: Erma (Dennis) Christensen of Ruthven, IA; Marilyn (Bob) Top of Palisade, NE; and MaryAnn (Kelly) Zinnel of Hawarden; grandchildren and great grandchildren: Jason Preston and special friend Tracey Hemmert of Lake Park; Angela (Tim) Fisher and daughter, Peyton of Eagan, MN; Andy Preston of Lake Park; Cristi (Randy) Starling and their children: Trevor and Justin of Bellevue, NE; Eric Top of Omaha, NE and his children: Emma, Madison and Curtis of Hartford, SD; Luke (Erika) Top of Calahan, CO; Nic (Kara) Top of McCook, NE; Rita (Cory) Nagel and their children: Wesley, Rose and Will of George, IA; Tonia Ranchau and her children: Ethan, Traci, Ally, Alexis of Hawarden; Matt Zinnel of Hawarden; and Rachel Zinnel of Hawarden. Mary is also survived by two brothers-in-law: Anthony Burgers of LeMars, Henry VandenBrink of Rock Valley; sister-in-law, Winnie Kamminga of Crescent, IA as well as several nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Henry on Oct 7, 1999; her parents; son-in-law, Steven Preston; two sisters: Margaret Van Holland and her husband Tony, and Evelyn VandenBrink, sister-in-law Helen Burgers and brother-in-law, Arnold Kamminga. Online Condolences Clara Bannick Rock Valley, IA Relationship: Neighbor in the 70's and '80 Want to express my sympathies to the family. Sent: 12/25/2010