Verna Mae Buerkett, 91, of Springfield, died on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, surrounded by her children.
Cremation has been accorded.
A private family burial will be held at Joel Hall cemetery in Athens.
Mrs. Buerkett was born in Carlinville on Dec. 13, 1934, to the late Jay McHugh and Verna Helen Rice Atterberry.
She was a 1952 graduate of Hillsboro High School. During her days at HHS, she was involved in chorus, operetta, Spanish club, visual aids, commercial and booster clubs, Hiltop yearbook club and was a class officer.
After school, she would walk downtown to work at the Jordan Pharmacy, where she operated the soda fountain and served ice cream floats in Hillsboro.
Mrs. Buerkett married Stuart Diehl Buerkett II and they had six children.
She worked at Pana Mutual Insurance in Hillsboro and CIPS in Coffeen.
She retired from Ameren CIPS in 1998. During her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren, hosting and attending family holiday gatherings, family cookouts, teaching swim aerobics at FitClub, golfing, walking with family and neighbors, volunteering at First United Methodist Church and St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
Mrs. Buerkett is survived by a brother, David (wife, Marla) Atterberry of Coffeen; a sister, Bev Atterberry Meyer of Hillsboro; a sister-in-law, Bobbie Atterberry of Hillsboro; six children, Bonny (husband, Rex) Fuller of Hillsboro, Judy (husband, Stan) Thacker of Coffeen, Michael (wife, Ginger) Buerkett of Tampa, FL, Dyke (wife, Lyn) Buerkett of Hillsboro, Gale (husband, Greg) Rectenwal of Springfield and Eric (wife, Beth) Buerkett of Springfield; seventeen grandchildren; thirty-three great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Donald Hugh and Stephen Ray Atterberry; and sister, Nancy Sue Atterberry Miller.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Hillsboro Central Park Fund, c/o Imagine Hillsboro at PO Box 234, Hillsboro, IL 62049 or to Residential Hospice at 4215 State Route 159, Glen Carbon, IL 62034.
Mott and Henning Funeral Home is assisting the Buerkett family. Online condolences can be left at www.mottandhenning.com.
