http://www.walkermortuary.com/book-of-memories/2783845/Burstrom-Warren/obituary.php
A favorite teacher of many in our class, Warren Burstrom, died on December 3, 2016. I can still see him giving the guys in the science classes a hard time. And he coached many in sports. His main career was in Freeport at the college, but we'll always remember him at MMHS. He attended some of our class reunions, most recently in 2014, or sent a humorous message. Re-reading the class blog I see he and his wife attended the town cantata in December 2009.
"Warren F. Burstrom, age 92 of Freeport, IL, passed away Saturday,
December 3, 2016 at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport. He was born April
11, 1924 in Chicago, IL; son of the late Frank and Hattie (Schumann)
Burstrom. He graduated from Portage Park and Schurz High Schools in
Chicago, and attended Luther College until his call to serve his
country. Warren served in the United States Navy during WWII, stationed
at the end of the war at Treasure Island, CA. He holds the highest
recorded score in navigation. While in the Navy he played on the
Treasure Island baseball team. He completed his B.A. at Luther College
after discharge. He pursued graduate education at the University of
Minnesota in Philosophy, completed a Masters in Mathematics at Western
Illinois University and continued post-graduate studies at Case Western
and New Mexico State University.
Warren married Rosella Opsand on August 9, 1952 in Gunder, IA; she
passed on April 30, 1981. He married Deloris (Smedstad) Womeldorf on
June 19, 1983.
Teaching was Warren’s passion and he began his teaching career in Mt.
Morris, IL where he also coached football, golf, and baseball. He then
went on to teach at Highland Community College in Freeport beginning in
1963 and retiring in 1988. He served as chairman of the Mathematics and
Science Department of Highland. He was also instrumental in the
foundation of Highland’s School of Nursing. Warren was also a former
president of the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and of
Golden “K” Kiwanis Club. He was also a member of the Northwest Illinois
Audubon Society, the Jane Addamsland Park Foundation that supports the
bike path, the Highland Community College Chorale, and served on the
Board of Directors for the FACC. He also volunteered and supported the
Salvation Army active with the Highland College Foundation. Warren was a
member of First Lutheran Church of Freeport where he served on the
church council. He loved playing tennis, baseball, and bicycling as well
as woodworking. Warren was known as a “storyteller par excellence.”
He is survived by his wife, Deloris Burstrom of Freeport; daughters,
Kathryn (Frank) Hall of Corvallis, OR and Ruth (Niels Chapman) Burstrom
of Albuquerque, NM; son, Frank Burstrom of Tucson, AZ; step children;
Vicki (Mark) Brunsvold of Edina, MN, Mark (Holly) Womeldorf of Plymouth,
MN, Marti (Dan) Guetzlaff of Faribault, MN, Dale (Cathy) Womeldorf of
Shakopee, MN, and Erik (Shala Cunningham) Womeldorf of Roanoke, VA;
grandchildren, Eric Hall and Anika Hall of Portland, OR; step
grandchildren: Amanda & Sydney Brunsvold of Edina, MN; Pieper (Ben)
Lundell of Dubuque, IA; Aaron (Alexis) Guetzlaff of Lenexa, KS; Elliott
Guetzlaff of Denver, CO; Abby Guetzlaff of Chicago, IL; Evan Guetzlaff
of Lenexa, KS; Andrew, Jacob, Zachary & Samantha Womeldorf, Hannah
& Tyler Birkholz of Minneapolis, MN; and Wynn & Noah Womeldorf
of Roanoke, VA; step great grandchildren, Kylan & Brielle Guetzlaff,
and Yeardley & Walker Lundell; nephew Greg Giles (Tracey Barrett)
cousins, Barbara (Cornelius) Van Diggelen; Kim (Kathee) Stanke, and Kirk
(Sue) Stanke; and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his
parents; first wife, Rosella; brother, George (Eva) Giles; and cousin,
Beth Stanke.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, December 6th from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at
Walker Mortuary in Freeport. The funeral service will be Wednesday,
December 7th at 11:00 am at First Lutheran Church in Freeport with
visitation beginning at 9:30 am. Interment will take place at Oakland
Cemetery in Freeport. A memorial fund has been established in his name
with donations going to his favorite local charities listed above.
Memories, photos, reunions, jokes, poems and good times of the Mt. Morris, Illinois, class of 1957.
2 comments:
I honestly believe he was nearly everyone's favorite teacher. Because of him I did what I did in my work life and went and saw what I saw. Because of him several times in my work day, when I was faced with a difficult math and/or physics type problem, a quick solution seemed to magically pop to my head. He quite often pops to my mind and when he does I always smile from the memory.
The famous "mail dump" some of the boys from class of '57 did on Warren will live on for many years and it was one of his fondest memories I'm sure. He could still smile and laugh about it when I last saw him this summer at one of the band concerts. I went to visitation last night and even his wife remembered it and said he often repeated the story to others.
I will dearly remember and miss him. If one is lucky . . . . maybe once in their life someone important will come into their lives for a short time. Warren was that man for me.
Sylvia, Salley and Bob C. attended his funeral,some of us that wished to go had other committments..So.'57 was represented well. Many donated to his many memorials. He gave us a wide choice, as he was interested and involved in any worthy choices . I chose the Northern Il Audubon Society...we shared bird watching and protecting their nesting areas. Actually, his first wife ,my 7th and 8th grade home-room teacher was mine for favorite...but I am not a guy and more inclined toward poetry than hi-jinks...he had TWO wonderful wives...he deserved them both and the adoration of the class of '57...we were luckier than me know..
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