Burdell Huisinga

Burdell Wanda Huisinga, 87, of Aplington, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at Halcyon House Assisted Living in Washington, Iowa. She was born on September 9, 1932, in rural Wellsburg, Iowa, to John and Edna (Schoon) Lauterbach.  Burdell attended Pleasant Valley Township School through 8th grade and graduated from Aplington Community High School in 1950. After high school she worked as a nurse’s aide for Dr. Fred Rolfs in Aplington and also as a waitress at the Aplington Sale Barn.

On October 17, 1952, Burdell was united in marriage to her high school sweetheart, Myrlin Huisinga, at the Christian Reformed Church in Parkersburg.   Upon Myrlin’s entry into the US Army, Burdell followed Myrlin to his service station in Fort Smith, Arkansas where she worked as a ward clerk at Sparks Memorial Hospital. Upon Myrlin’s discharge from the service, the couple made their home and farmed southeast of Aplington near Buck Grove for 38 years, where they raised three children, Wesley, Beth and Sarah. 

Burdell loved vegetable gardening, tending to her flowers, cooking and baking.   For sixty years she was a faithful member of Aplington Presbyterian Church actively participating in bible studies and APW.  Together with Myrlin, she volunteered countless hours over the years assisting the Aplington AMVETS in serving dinners for all kinds of private and community events, running Saturday night bingo and for several years, managing the Amvet Food Stand at the Butler County Fair. In later years she joined Post 285 Legion Auxiliary, where she loved to work the Sunday morning breakfasts, and in 2011 was honored as Post 285 Auxiliary Member of the Year. Her greatest pride were her children whom she supported by never missing their school events or the opportunity to accompany them to many county fairs, state fairs and Cattle Congress to watch them show cattle.  Burdell was always to be found in the cattle barn preparing lunch!

Upon Myrlin’s death in 1993, Burdell moved to town in Aplington and for a period of time she went back to work at her old waitress job that she had held 43 years earlier at the Aplington Sale Barn. She enjoyed working with children and became an active leader for Awanas. The most important things in life for Burdell were her faith, dedication to her family, and a strong work ethic.

Burdell is survived by her children, Wesley and his wife, Lisa, of Cedar Rapids, IA, Beth Uhlenhopp of Prairie City, IA and Sarah Moeller and her husband, Donald, of Washington, IA together with grandchildren, Laura (Glenn) Terpstra of Fresno, CA, Joseph Huisinga, of Bozeman, MT, Zachary Uhlenhopp, of Iowa Falls, IA, Michaela Uhlenhopp and Morgan Uhlenhopp, of Prairie City, IA and Vanessa Moeller of Marion, IA., and a great grandchild due in September.    She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Myrlin, and a son-in-law, Daryl Uhlenhopp.

Funeral services were held 1:30 p.m., Saturday, July 25, 2020, at Aplington Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Aplington, with Pastor Scott Summers officiating.  Mackinzie Uhlenhopp provided special music.  The congregations sang “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”, “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art”.  Burial was at Pleasant View Cemetery in Aplington with Donald Moeller, Zachary Uhlenhopp, Vanessa Moeller, Lyle Huisinga, Michaela Uhlenhopp, Morgan Uhlenhopp and Joseph Huisinga serving as Casketbearers.  Honorary Casketbearers were Laura (Glenn) Terpstra. 

Visitation was held from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the church.  Memorials may be directed to the Hillcrest Family Services in Dubuque or the Aplington Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  Redman-Schwartz Funeral Chapel in Aplington was in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be left at www.redman-schwartz.com

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