Burns, Anna Theresa (Offerman)

Anna Theresa (Offerman) Burns, 85, of Dubuque, formerly of Aurora, Iowa, passed away Friday, Nov. 9, 2012.

The celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, St. Patrick Catholic Church in Winthrop, Iowa. Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday and until 12:30 p.m. Monday.at the Fawcett Funeral Home in Winthrop with a Scripture service at 4 p.m. Sunday.

Anna was born in Ryan, Iowa, and graduated from St. Patrick High School. After a short career with the Buchanan County REC, Anna was united in marriage to Donald E. Burns on Aug. 31, 1948, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Ryan, Iowa. They started their successful farming careers in 1949 with two horses, Tritt and Trott. Anna had a special farming partnership with her husband Don. Anna and Don were the proud parents to a trio of wonderful daughters.

Anna enjoyed supporting the Buchanan County 4-H programs – she baked blue ribbon apple pies for many years and was inducted into the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame for her extensive contributions to the 4-H program. Anna and Don traveled thousands of miles throughout the United States in their motor home and knew the route from northeast Iowa to Birmingham, Ala. without looking at a map. Anna cherished gatherings with family and friends, loved the 12 years she and her daughters made annual spring trips to Las Vegas, and enjoyed many years of camping, school programs and sporting events with grandchildren. In recent years, she enjoyed the entertainment provided by her two great-grandchildren.

Anna was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Winthrop, Iowa, and Resurrection Catholic Church in Dubuque, Iowa.

Anna is survived by three daughters, Becky (Ronald) Steffen of Peosta, Iowa, Beverly (Jim) Spahn of Trussville, Ala., and Brenda (Michael) Vondran of Davenport, Iowa; five grandchildren, Brent (Molly) Steffen, Emily (Jared) Ernst, Baron Vondran, Riley Spahn and Ryan Spahn; two great-grandchildren, Paige and Jackson Steffen; and a sister, Cecelia Behan of Iowa City, Iowa.

Anna was preceded in death by Donald Burns, her loving husband of 62 years; parents, Clem and Ellen Offerman; brothers and sisters, Sister Mary Columba Offerman, Ralph Offerman, Dorance Offerman, Cletus Offerman, Clementine Offerman and JC Offerman; and grandson, Hunter Vondran.

Memorials may be given to the HAVLife Foundation (created in honor of Hunter A. Vondran).

Online condolences may be sent at under obituaries.

Published Nov. 11, 2012 in The Gazette