L. Burklund

Moline, Illinois
Margie L. Burklund, 80, of Moline, Illinois, died Wednesday, February 16, 2011, in her home.
Services are 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Elim Covenant Church, Moline, with Pastor Darren Olson officiating. Visitation is one hour before the services. Burial will take place at a later date at Rock Island National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Veterans Volunteer Services at the VA Medical Center, Iowa City, or any cancer fund. Trimble Funeral and Cremation Center, Moline, is entrusted with arrangements.
The former Margie Louise Dunbar was born January 10, 1931, in Rock Island, Illinois, the daughter of Fred and Lela Hill Dunbar. Margie attended primary school in Rock Island and John Deere Jr. High in Moline. In 1950, she began corresponding with Earl Burklund, who was in Korea, and when he returned home from the war they were married on November 10, 1951.
During their teen age years they lived within a block of each other. During their marriage she was a strong supporter of her husband and was active in his union organization and veterans organizations.
She was a charter Life member of the RAKKASAN Reserves which is the name given the 187th Airborne Regiment that her husband served with in Korea. She liked traveling and was able to travel most of the continental USA as well as Puerto Rico, both with the 187th, and to AFSCME union events of which her husband was International Vice President.
She took pride in her volunteer work on behalf of veterans. She was a charter member of the MOC Auxiliary, which is the Honor Degree of the VFW. With them, she was proud to be part of the ?Tomb Trek?, placing a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier on several occasions. She began volunteering at the Bettendorf VA Clinic the first day they opened and was volunteering up until 2009, when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and because of her immune system being low, she couldn?t continue. She had over 5,000 hours credited to her with the national organization.
On the first of every month, Margie would bake 60 dozen cookies of different varieties and each Wednesday would take them to the VA clinic for the veterans, seeing to it that each cookie was properly wrapped. She would then work in filing and preparing mailings and would often speak to veterans and their spouses to relieve them of anxieties.
She was an active member of the VFW Auxiliary #2056, and she belonged to the East Moline American Legion Auxiliary. She liked doing needle craft work.
Margie was a loving, caring, and outgoing person who will truly be missed by her family and many friends in the Quad City area, as well as throughout the United States.
Margie is survive by her husband, Earl; three children, Kathryn D. Burklund of Moline, Glenn S. Burklund and his wife Cindy of Rogersville, Tenn., and Brian Burklund of East Moline; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Dorothy Souer of Indianola, Iowa; brothers, David Simmerman and Richard Simmerman, both of Oregon; and her loving dog, Chesney. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Christine Burklund; sisters, Kathryn Dunbar and Evelyn Brady; and a half-brother, Fred Dunbar, Jr.
Margie?s family invites friends to share stories and condolences and light a candle in her memory at www.TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.