Obituary of Verdus Harry Burr

Verdus H. Burr, 95 of Dubuque formerly of New Vienna, Iowa died peacefully, surrounded by family and loved ones, on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at Bethany Home in Dubuque, Iowa. Friends may call from 3 until 8 p.m. Tuesday, November 22, 2011, at Kramer Funeral Home in Dyersville where a parish scripture service will be held at 4 p.m. and military honors will be accorded by V.F.W. Post #7736 at 7 p.m. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 23, 2011, at St Boniface Catholic Church, New Vienna, Iowa, with burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Guttenberg, Iowa. Rev. John O'Connor will officiate. Survivors include: 2 daughters, Joyce (Ron) Digmann of Dyersville and Sherry (Ron) Buxton of Dubuque; a son -in-law, Bill (Jeanette) Digmann; of Dyersville, 11 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Virgil, one son, Gary Burr, one daughter, Verdene "Dena" Digmann , a granddaughter, Melissa Digmann, great-grandson, Korbyn Digmann, a twin sister, Delores Burr and brother Edward Burr. Verdus was a WWII veteran, who served as a cook in the Army from 1942-1945 after being injured. He was proud to have cooked for General Eisenhower and General Patton. Verdus was born in Guttenberg, Iowa on September 11, 1916, the son of Frank and Martha Stoeffler Burr. He married Virgil Merrick on September 9, 1940 in Dubuque, Iowa and celebrated 59 years together. Verdus was a butter maker in New Vienna for 22 years and a field supervisor for Swiss Valley Farms for 13 years. During his 35 year retirement he loved to fish, do woodworking, play horseshoes, and was a jokester who cherished his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Memorials are preferred. A special thanks to the staff of Bethany Home of Dubuque, Dr. Khatib and Hospice of Dubuque for their kindness and loving care of Verdus.