Mrs. Annabelle G. Burgland, 103, passed away at 3:00 am Thursday, December 5, 2024, at her home Hawthorne Inn.
Annabelle was born November 18, 1921, in Mercer County, Illinois, the daughter of George V. and Mary (Marsh) Gray. She married Richard M. Burgland on July 7, 1946, in Hamlet, Illinois after 57 years of marriage he preceded her in death on September 5, 2003.
Annabelle is survived by her children, George (Mary) Burgland of Galesburg, Margaret (Lance) Renfroe of Galesburg and John (Nancy) Burgland, of Hortonville, Wisconsin and six grandchildren, Caroline (Mike) Cormier, Richard (Amy) Burgland, Megan (Sean) Kane, Emily (Matt) Costenson, Lucas (Jenn) Renfroe, and Callie (Bret) Springstroh; fourteen great grandchildren, Henry, Jack and William Cormier, Frances, Georgia and Gus Burgland, Braden and Finley Kane, Annabelle Costenson, Matthew and Maddie Costenson, Landin, Caiden and Ella Springstroh and three great great grandchildren, Parker, Paisley and Piper Costenson. She is preceded in death by her husband, Richard, and her two brothers, Gene and Donald Gray.
Annabelle graduated from Aledo High School in 1938 and from the University of Illinois in 1942 where she lived in the 4-H House. She later became an exulted Alumni member of the University of Illinois. Annabelle was a schoolteacher in Little York for three years before teaching nineteen years for Galesburg District 205, retiring in 1980. Annabelle was inducted into the inaugural ACES Round Barn Society and was the first recipient to receive the Home Ec Award of Merit in 1994.
Annabelle was very involved in her community, as a member of the NK Chapter of PEO, she was a member of Home Extension and a member of the Hawthorne Club. She volunteered her time at Community Treasures, OSF St. Mary Medical Center and as a 4-H leader for many years. Annabelle was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church; there she served on the board of directors and was a member of the Ladies Circle. She also was the last surviving member of the Genuis Ladies Group. Annabelle really enjoyed her time spent with the Silver Sneakers at the YMCA.
The Burgland/Renfroe family would like to express their gratitude to the Hawthorne Inn family for their wonderful care of Annabelle.
Visitation will be held from 1:00-3:00 pm Saturday, December 14, 2024, at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services Galesburg Chapel with services to follow at 3:00 pm at the chapel with Rev. Dr. Carrie Carnes officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Jack Larson Shoe Foundation, c/o Galesburg Community Foundation or Trinity Lutheran Church. Online condolences may be offered at www.h-p-w.com
