Obituary of Norma L. Burgdorff

Norma L. Jeglum Burgdorff, 95, died January 26, 2011 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady, New York. Born in Perry Township, Wisconsin on March 22, 1915, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Marie Jeglum. She resided with her family in Perry Township until she graduated from high school in Blanchardville, Wisconsin and relocated to Madison, Wisconsin to further her education. She was one of four children, including a twin brother, Norman Jeglum, as well as a second brother, Myron Jeglum, and one sister, Hazel Jeglum Steensland. She was of Norwegian descent and grew up in a Norwegian community, which preserved and practiced the heritage and traditions of Norway. She married Alden Burgdorff on September 19, 1937 at Perry Lutheran church in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin. They were married for fifty-six years and shared a very adventurous life together having lived in multiple regions of the U.S., as well as spending several years living out of the U.S. in Guadalajara and Acapulco, Mexico. Before moving to New York to live near her daughter three years ago, she had resided in Florida for several years. Throughout her lifetime, she had amassed a large circle of devoted friends who stayed in touch with her for her entire lifetime. Norma is survived by her two daughters, Betty J. Dowling of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Karen S. O'cain of Saratoga Springs, New York. She is also survived by four grandchildren: James Dowling, Charles Dowling, Nicole Pierce and Christopher Nagelson, along with ten great-grandchildren, two nieces and seven nephews. A service is being planned for June 2011 at Perry Lutheran Church in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin to celebrate Norma's life. Memorial donations can be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at 60 East 56th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022. The family is immensely and immeasurably richer because of the gift she was to all of us, as well as to all the people that she touched who have either directly or indirectly benefited from having her in their lives. She was an example of how to live life; eternally thankful and appreciative of all her blessings.