Beverly Sue Leydens Buerkens, 80, of Davenport passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, September 28, 2013 in Davenport. Per her wishes, cremation rites will be accorded and a life celebration will be held Summer 2014. Online condolences may be left at www.rungemortuary.com
Beverly was the youngest of nine children born to William and Maggie (VanGenderen) Leydens. She was born on May 7, 1933 in Poweshiek County, IA, on the family farm near Montezuma, IA. She was raised there and graduated from high school in 1953 and started her teaching career in Garnavillo, IA, before receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Northern Iowa. Bev then taught in New Sharon and Grinnell, IA. On February 6, 1960 she married Bruce Quist Buerkens and they lived in Davenport, IA where both held positions in the Davenport Community School District. Over the next decade, they lived in both Davenport, IA and Columbia, MO while he earned a Doctorate in Education and she received her Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa.
Beverly was a strong believer in life-long learning and read one book every day up to the last few days of her life. Memorials can be made to the Davenport Schools Foundation, your favorite anti-smoking campaign or your local library.
Those left to honor her memory include her son, Barney Leydens Buerkens, and his daughters Frances Clara and Laurinda Christine Buerkens; his wife, Christina (Loh) and their sons, Gabriel Loh and Jacob Loh Buerkens; her daughter, Belinda Quist Mielenhausen, son-in-law, Steve and their children: Maaike Quist, Van Louis and Quinn Bruce Mielenhausen and her son, Benjamin William and his wife, Kimberly (Beardsley) Buerkens. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce of 17 years.
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