Willa M. Burco

BURCO DESTIVAL THURN DREYER LARSON HOLT SADLER

Posted By: diane beier (email)
Date: 12/2/2021 at 18:49:09

Willa M. Burco, 80, of Edgewood, Iowa, died on Friday evening, July 2, 2021 at the Edgewood Convalescent Home in Edgewood.

There will be a Private Family Visitation and Funeral at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein.

Interment: Hazleton (Fontana) Cemetery, Hazleton, Iowa.

A Memorial Fund has been established for the Buchanan County Animal Shelter in Hazleton and the Cedar Bend Humane Society in Waterloo.

Condolences may be directed to: Carmen Dreyer, 18244 Domino Road, Elkader, Iowa 52043.

Willa Mae Destival was born on March 12, 1941, in a car on the way to the Independence hospital, the daughter of Doras “Doc” & Rosa (Thurn) Destival. She attended country school and high school in Stanley until she and her Stanley classmates were consolidated with Oelwein, graduating from Oelwein High School in the class of 1959. They were the first Oelwein graduating class after the consolidation. Willa continued her education and graduated from the Paris School of Cosmetology in Cedar Rapids. Willa was married to Jerald Lee Burco on February 28, 1962, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Two children were born to this union, Carmen and Darin. They settled on the family farm south of Hazleton where Willa assumed the role of farm wife and loving mama. She helped during planting and harvesting, preparing and hauling home cooked meals to the field, tended to the livestock and the occasional, “cows are out” chase. Willa could also be found in the fields helping to pick up rock and walking the beans. Carmen and Darin would join in with Darin, always volunteering to go fill the water jug and never returning. Willa would get so mad at him but also found the humor in it as she would often tell the story with a laugh. Willa always had a large garden and could be found canning all its produce in the fall. Summer would find Willa helping her children with their 4-H projects. Whether it was styling or fluffing a calf’s tail to supervising a baking or sewing project that Carmen despised, she showed her love by the attention she gave her children. Willa and Jerald later divorced. After her divorce, Willa moved to a home on the south edge of Oelwein and began a new career working at Connors and Davidsons.

Willa had a special place in her heart for animals. She especially enjoyed dogs and was a member of the American Kennel Club. She was a supporter of the Buchanan County Animal Shelter in Hazleton and the Cedar Bend Human Society in Waterloo because of her love of animals. She traveled Iowa and neighboring states for many years with her Registered Puli, “Bo Jo.” Willa loved her children and grandchildren as she found joy in their accomplishments and wanted to know what they had been up to. She loved her “greats” and she always said how cute they were and then Carmen would say, “Grandma’s always say that about their grandkids,” and Willa would finish with a twinkle in her eye, “but it’s true.” Willa had a special mother/daughter bond with Carmen whether it be phone calls, shopping adventures, nail painting sessions or an occasional trip out-n-about in the area. Willa enjoyed a good box of Betty Jane Gremlins, often eating the whole box. She enjoyed Scott’s mustache kisses that would always make her giggle. Willa’s family will remember her as a feisty one until the very end. Rest in peace – Mama – we love you always.

Willa is survived by her Daughter: Carmen (Scott) Dreyer of Elkader;

Son: Darin (Nicole) Burco of Independence;

4 Grandchildren: Cody (Chelsea) Dreyer, Megan (Jake) Larson, Jordyn Burco & Dustin Burco;

4 Great Grandchildren: Jaxon, Archer, Alexis & Crosby;

Brother: Charles (Sondra) Destival of Sharon, CT;

Sister: Dixie Holt of Edgewood and a Niece & Nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, sister: Iris Sadler and nephews: Roger Holt and Marlon Holt.