Verna Buerkett

Verna Mae Buerkett, 91, of Springfield, Illinois, went home to the Lord, on Sunday, September 20, 2026, surrounded by her children.

Verna was born in Carlinville, Illinois, on December 13, 1934, to the late Jay McHugh and Verna Helen Rice Atterberry.

Verna was a 1952 graduate of Hillsboro High School. During her days at H.H.S., 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.

Verna married Stuart Diehl Buerkett II, and they had six children.

Verna worked at Pana Mutual Insurance in Hillsboro and CIPS in Coffeen, Illinois.

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.

Verna was preceded in death by her parents, husband, brothers, Donald Hugh and Stephen Ray Atterberry, sister, Nancy Sue Atterberry Miller.

She is survived by a brother, David (wife, Marla) Atterberry of Coffeen, a sister Bev Atterberry Meyer and a sister-in-law, Bobbie Atterberry both 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.

Cremation has been accorded.

A private family burial will be held at Joel Hall cemetery in Athens, IL.

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 & Henning Funeral Home is assisting the Buerkett family. Online condolences can be left at www.mottandhenning.com