RODNEY BURLINGAME

RODNEY BURLINGAME

     Rodney Burlingame, 87, of Merrillan passed away at home March 24, 2023. His last days were spent surrounded by family and friends; a beautiful tribute to a remarkable man. 

     Rod was a wonderful father, grandfather and friend. He loved having coffee with the guys, traveling out west on vacation with the kids, then grandkids and then just him and his wife Jackie. He was active in the Lions Club and church and was a wonderful neighbor and friend. He would buy and place cemetery stones for people without family. He always made sure those with no one would have flowers on their cemetery stones on Memorial Day. He helped with the Lions Labor Day festival, car shows and Bingo tent with his fellow Lions, including his son Mike.

     Rod loved sports of all kinds. He started out as a ski jumper and became a great pitcher for the Airport Bar Softball team. After he retired from his own sports, he became an avid fan of the Packers, Bucks, Badgers, Brewers and the Hornets.

     He grew up in Merrillan, worked for the railroad, then owned his own gas station after returning from Beloit. He worked for General Telephone where he remained for many years. After his retirement from GTE, he worked for an engineering firm for a brief time. He then began driving the school bus. He made many new kid friends and continued his relationships with the sports teams he supported with fellow fans.

     Rod had a fantastic sense of humor and loved to tell jokes and play pranks until his very last days. His love and laughter will be missed by many.

     Rod was preceded in death by his father Ernest Burlingame, mother Agnes Burlingame (Vincent), brother Dale Burlingame, brother Schuyler (Pot) Burlingame, brother Douglas Burlingame, son Mark Burlingame, son Thad Burlingame and son-in-law Duane Parks.

     He is survived by his wife Jackie (Burchard) Burlingame, daughter Peggy (Craig) Zahrte, daughter Linda (Ken) Barber, daughter Marla Parks, daughter Katy Johnson-Kozal, son Mike (Kris) Burlingame, foster daughter Maria (Tim) Burlingame and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.

     A celebration of life will be held on June 17 in Merrillan. The location is yet to be determined.