Ipava, IL - Lanny Ross Burgard, 62, of Gardiner, Mont., formerly of Ipava, Ill., passed away peacefully at the Billings Clinic in Billings, Mont., on Monday, May 3, 2010.
His long and brutal struggle with esophageal cancer was a testament to Lanny's desire and love for life. Cancer ended his life, but he went out fighting as he always wished. Life may be a struggle at times, but Lanny's spirit overcame any obstacle that crossed his path.
Lanny was born June 30, 1947, in Canton, Ill. He was the fifth of six children born to Nelda and Harold Burgard. Lanny was raised on the family farm in Pleasant Township near Ipava, Ill. Lanny exemplified what it meant to be a "farm kid" and was very proud of it. He spent his youth either playing sports at the local fields in Ipava or working hard on the family farm. He always claimed the hard work he put into the farm paled in comparison to the incredibly hard work his two older brothers, John and Robert, had endured. He never thought he was ever wronged and continually looked for the positive in any situation.
Lanny was a proud graduate of VIT High School. He spoke fondly of his teachers and classmates and the ways in which they shaped his life. Perhaps more than anything, sports were a vital part of Lanny's youth. His memories of basketball, football and track encompassed a large part of Lanny's life. He carried his love of sports to college, where he played on a basketball scholarship for a year at Valparaiso University in Indiana.
He left Valparaiso for a number of reasons and continued his education at Canton Community College. Here he met his lifelong best friend, Larry McAllister, playing pickup basketball. The next time he and Larry would meet was in a rice paddy in the middle of Vietnam. Lanny was drafted into the U.S. military in 1969. The farm kid from Illinois found himself in the middle of a war zone. Lanny was never resentful of his tour in Vietnam. Instead, he chose to intelligently analyze why he was there and once again found ways to make the most of this trying situation. He enjoyed the local Vietnamese people, his Australian comrades and his many R & R trips while stationed in Da Nang, where he was the head of Foreign Awards. Upon Lanny's return from Southeast Asia, he viewed the world through a different lens.
Lanny was no longer satisfied with life on the farm. He moved west to the mountains. He married the love of his life, Diane, on July 9, 1979. Their 30-year marriage is a testament to their love and commitment to one another. Through Lanny's fight against cancer, Diane never left his side. Countless nights were spent helping him in any way she knew how and always fighting for him by his side. Their love will endure forever.
Lanny and Diane started their own construction business in 1983. It was incredibly successful, as with everything else Lanny attempted in his life. His intelligence in work and social situations never ceased to amaze those close to him.
Jessica, his daughter, was born on July 8, 1983. Lanny was her mentor and best friend. He truly was the greatest adviser and parent a child could ask for.
Lanny was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Diane; and his daughter, Jessica, and her love and partner, Eric Gray. He is also survived by his three sisters, Becky (Don) Heller of Table Grove, Luann (Lowell) Davis of London Mills and Lois Gorsage of Lewistown; two brothers, John (Rose) Burgard of Ipava and Robert (Sarah Dress) Burgard of Ipava; and many nieces and nephews.
Interment will be in the Ipava Cemetery.
May 5, 2010 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
His long and brutal struggle with esophageal cancer was a testament to Lanny's desire and love for life. Cancer ended his life, but he went out fighting as he always wished. Life may be a struggle at times, but Lanny's spirit overcame any obstacle that crossed his path.
Lanny was born June 30, 1947, in Canton, Ill. He was the fifth of six children born to Nelda and Harold Burgard. Lanny was raised on the family farm in Pleasant Township near Ipava, Ill. Lanny exemplified what it meant to be a "farm kid" and was very proud of it. He spent his youth either playing sports at the local fields in Ipava or working hard on the family farm. He always claimed the hard work he put into the farm paled in comparison to the incredibly hard work his two older brothers, John and Robert, had endured. He never thought he was ever wronged and continually looked for the positive in any situation.
Lanny was a proud graduate of VIT High School. He spoke fondly of his teachers and classmates and the ways in which they shaped his life. Perhaps more than anything, sports were a vital part of Lanny's youth. His memories of basketball, football and track encompassed a large part of Lanny's life. He carried his love of sports to college, where he played on a basketball scholarship for a year at Valparaiso University in Indiana.
He left Valparaiso for a number of reasons and continued his education at Canton Community College. Here he met his lifelong best friend, Larry McAllister, playing pickup basketball. The next time he and Larry would meet was in a rice paddy in the middle of Vietnam. Lanny was drafted into the U.S. military in 1969. The farm kid from Illinois found himself in the middle of a war zone. Lanny was never resentful of his tour in Vietnam. Instead, he chose to intelligently analyze why he was there and once again found ways to make the most of this trying situation. He enjoyed the local Vietnamese people, his Australian comrades and his many R & R trips while stationed in Da Nang, where he was the head of Foreign Awards. Upon Lanny's return from Southeast Asia, he viewed the world through a different lens.
Lanny was no longer satisfied with life on the farm. He moved west to the mountains. He married the love of his life, Diane, on July 9, 1979. Their 30-year marriage is a testament to their love and commitment to one another. Through Lanny's fight against cancer, Diane never left his side. Countless nights were spent helping him in any way she knew how and always fighting for him by his side. Their love will endure forever.
Lanny and Diane started their own construction business in 1983. It was incredibly successful, as with everything else Lanny attempted in his life. His intelligence in work and social situations never ceased to amaze those close to him.
Jessica, his daughter, was born on July 8, 1983. Lanny was her mentor and best friend. He truly was the greatest adviser and parent a child could ask for.
Lanny was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Diane; and his daughter, Jessica, and her love and partner, Eric Gray. He is also survived by his three sisters, Becky (Don) Heller of Table Grove, Luann (Lowell) Davis of London Mills and Lois Gorsage of Lewistown; two brothers, John (Rose) Burgard of Ipava and Robert (Sarah Dress) Burgard of Ipava; and many nieces and nephews.
Interment will be in the Ipava Cemetery.
May 5, 2010 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
Ipava, IL - Lanny Ross Burgard, 62, of Gardiner, Mont., formerly of Ipava, Ill., passed away peacefully at the Billings Clinic in Billings, Mont., on Monday, May 3, 2010.
His long and brutal struggle with esophageal cancer was a testament to Lanny's desire and love for life. Cancer ended his life, but he went out fighting as he always wished. Life may be a struggle at times, but Lanny's spirit overcame any obstacle that crossed his path.
Lanny was born June 30, 1947, in Canton, Ill. He was the fifth of six children born to Nelda and Harold Burgard. Lanny was raised on the family farm in Pleasant Township near Ipava, Ill. Lanny exemplified what it meant to be a "farm kid" and was very proud of it. He spent his youth either playing sports at the local fields in Ipava or working hard on the family farm. He always claimed the hard work he put into the farm paled in comparison to the incredibly hard work his two older brothers, John and Robert, had endured. He never thought he was ever wronged and continually looked for the positive in any situation.
Lanny was a proud graduate of VIT High School. He spoke fondly of his teachers and classmates and the ways in which they shaped his life. Perhaps more than anything, sports were a vital part of Lanny's youth. His memories of basketball, football and track encompassed a large part of Lanny's life. He carried his love of sports to college, where he played on a basketball scholarship for a year at Valparaiso University in Indiana.
He left Valparaiso for a number of reasons and continued his education at Canton Community College. Here he met his lifelong best friend, Larry McAllister, playing pickup basketball. The next time he and Larry would meet was in a rice paddy in the middle of Vietnam. Lanny was drafted into the U.S. military in 1969. The farm kid from Illinois found himself in the middle of a war zone. Lanny was never resentful of his tour in Vietnam. Instead, he chose to intelligently analyze why he was there and once again found ways to make the most of this trying situation. He enjoyed the local Vietnamese people, his Australian comrades and his many R & R trips while stationed in Da Nang, where he was the head of Foreign Awards. Upon Lanny's return from Southeast Asia, he viewed the world through a different lens.
Lanny was no longer satisfied with life on the farm. He moved west to the mountains. He married the love of his life, Diane, on July 9, 1979. Their 30-year marriage is a testament to their love and commitment to one another. Through Lanny's fight against cancer, Diane never left his side. Countless nights were spent helping him in any way she knew how and always fighting for him by his side. Their love will endure forever.
Lanny and Diane started their own construction business in 1983. It was incredibly successful, as with everything else Lanny attempted in his life. His intelligence in work and social situations never ceased to amaze those close to him.
Jessica, his daughter, was born on July 8, 1983. Lanny was her mentor and best friend. He truly was the greatest adviser and parent a child could ask for.
Lanny was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Diane; and his daughter, Jessica, and her love and partner, Eric Gray. He is also survived by his three sisters, Becky (Don) Heller of Table Grove, Luann (Lowell) Davis of London Mills and Lois Gorsage of Lewistown; two brothers, John (Rose) Burgard of Ipava and Robert (Sarah Dress) Burgard of Ipava; and many nieces and nephews.
Interment will be in the Ipava Cemetery.
May 5, 2010 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
His long and brutal struggle with esophageal cancer was a testament to Lanny's desire and love for life. Cancer ended his life, but he went out fighting as he always wished. Life may be a struggle at times, but Lanny's spirit overcame any obstacle that crossed his path.
Lanny was born June 30, 1947, in Canton, Ill. He was the fifth of six children born to Nelda and Harold Burgard. Lanny was raised on the family farm in Pleasant Township near Ipava, Ill. Lanny exemplified what it meant to be a "farm kid" and was very proud of it. He spent his youth either playing sports at the local fields in Ipava or working hard on the family farm. He always claimed the hard work he put into the farm paled in comparison to the incredibly hard work his two older brothers, John and Robert, had endured. He never thought he was ever wronged and continually looked for the positive in any situation.
Lanny was a proud graduate of VIT High School. He spoke fondly of his teachers and classmates and the ways in which they shaped his life. Perhaps more than anything, sports were a vital part of Lanny's youth. His memories of basketball, football and track encompassed a large part of Lanny's life. He carried his love of sports to college, where he played on a basketball scholarship for a year at Valparaiso University in Indiana.
He left Valparaiso for a number of reasons and continued his education at Canton Community College. Here he met his lifelong best friend, Larry McAllister, playing pickup basketball. The next time he and Larry would meet was in a rice paddy in the middle of Vietnam. Lanny was drafted into the U.S. military in 1969. The farm kid from Illinois found himself in the middle of a war zone. Lanny was never resentful of his tour in Vietnam. Instead, he chose to intelligently analyze why he was there and once again found ways to make the most of this trying situation. He enjoyed the local Vietnamese people, his Australian comrades and his many R & R trips while stationed in Da Nang, where he was the head of Foreign Awards. Upon Lanny's return from Southeast Asia, he viewed the world through a different lens.
Lanny was no longer satisfied with life on the farm. He moved west to the mountains. He married the love of his life, Diane, on July 9, 1979. Their 30-year marriage is a testament to their love and commitment to one another. Through Lanny's fight against cancer, Diane never left his side. Countless nights were spent helping him in any way she knew how and always fighting for him by his side. Their love will endure forever.
Lanny and Diane started their own construction business in 1983. It was incredibly successful, as with everything else Lanny attempted in his life. His intelligence in work and social situations never ceased to amaze those close to him.
Jessica, his daughter, was born on July 8, 1983. Lanny was her mentor and best friend. He truly was the greatest adviser and parent a child could ask for.
Lanny was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Diane; and his daughter, Jessica, and her love and partner, Eric Gray. He is also survived by his three sisters, Becky (Don) Heller of Table Grove, Luann (Lowell) Davis of London Mills and Lois Gorsage of Lewistown; two brothers, John (Rose) Burgard of Ipava and Robert (Sarah Dress) Burgard of Ipava; and many nieces and nephews.
Interment will be in the Ipava Cemetery.
May 5, 2010 | Peoria Journal Star, The (IL)
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