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Burdette Ackman, 91
Burdette Ackman, 91 years of age, a long-time Arlington resident, peacefully entered into his Eternal rest on Friday afternoon, July 9, 2010 at the Cedar Valley Hospice Home in Waterloo, following a short battle with cancer.
A celebration of his life was held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 13, at the United Methodist Church in Arlington with Pastor Lisa Schroeder officiating.
Interment was in the Taylorsville Cemetery in rural Arlington with military rites performed by the Cedar Rapids Color Guard and the Dean Harkin American Legion Post 219 of Arlington.
Casket bearers were David Squires, Joe Helle, Kevin Meyer, Don Ackman, Lee Wescott and Leroy Newton.
Visitation for family and friends was held from 3-7 p.m. on Monday, July 12, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Arlington.
Burdette Otto Ackman was born September 4, 1918 at rural Wood Center, to Earnest August and Anna Elizabeth (Stetter) Ackman. He attended country school near Arlington when his family moved from Wood Center, and then went to Arlington Public School where he graduated with the Class of 1936.
Burdette enlisted in the U.S. Army at Fort Des Moines on January 23, 1942 and was transferred to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he was a member of Troop A 2nd Squadron of the Horse Cavalry. After eight weeks he was then transferred to the 215th Station Hospital at Fort Custer, Michigan, then going to the 6th Army 42nd General Hospital Unit in Australia and the Philippines where he worked in the First Sergeants office as a company clerk in the Pacific Theater during World War II, and was honorably discharged in November 1945.
He was awarded Asiatic, Pacific, and Luzon Campaign ribbons, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Victory Medal.
While stationed in Manila, Burdette and his unit searched for survivors of the Death March on Luzon and in the Philippines. They also searched for and liberated many prisoners of war from POW camps including camps that were camouflaged and had hidden mines within them. The largest camp was No. 17 on Outa Island where over 1,000 POWs were taken back to the mainland and placed in a hospital or on the hospital ship, The USS Hope or the USS Marigold.
In March 12, 1946, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Mitchell at Perry, by the Rev. John B. Ackman, his uncle. One daughter, Barbara Ann, was born to this union.
The couple made their home on a farm northeast of Arlington for many years farming. Burdette drove school bus for the Arlington School system and then for the Central Community School at Elkader for 21 years. He was also employed as a tank wagon driver for the Arlington Co-op for 19 years, and he also operated the Felco Service Station in Volga for several years, retiring in 1981.
He and his wife moved into the senior citizens apartments in Arlington in 1994.
Burdette was a faithful long-time member of the Arlington United Methodist Church where he served on various committees. He was a lifetime paid-up member of the Dean Harkin American Legion Post 219 in Arlington where he had served as service officer for many years, and he was also on the Fayette County Commissioners of Veterans Affairs.
After his discharge from the military, Burdette joined American Legion Post 219 in Arlington. He was very faithful in attending many meetings of both organizations. His dream was to be a member of the Honor Flight that recently went to Washington, D.C. to the Veterans Memorial which he was accepted to do, but due to failing health he was unable to fulfill this dream.
As a lifetime member of Dean Harkin American Legion Post 219 he was a member of the firing squad for military funerals, helped assist in erecting and taking down flags from Veterans graves for Memorial Day at Taylorsville cemetery, and helped with many fund-raisers for the Legion.
In his healthy years he enjoyed going fishing with his fishing buddies, having coffee with the morning coffee "clan" and playing cards. He especially enjoyed being with his family and visiting with old friends and neighbors.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Barb (Harry) Nolda of Strawberry Point; three grandchildren, Nancy (Kevin) Meyer, Knoxville, Becky (Joe) Helle, Hiawatha, and David Squires (Nicole Peterson) of Manchester; and six great-grandchildren: Kaitlyn, Trevor and Coby Meyer, Grant and Blake Helle, and Savannah Squires.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife, Dorothy, on August 26, 2000.
Posted on July 14, 2010
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