Herbert Burgan

Herbert M. Burgan, 94, of Shawneetown entered eternal life Monday, April 27, 2009, at the Lutheran Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born March 30, 1915, in Fulton, Mo., son of John and Anna Catherine Ozark Burgan.

Herbert served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1941 to 1945 in the Aleutian Islands. He received the American Defense Ribbon, Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Bronze Star and many other honors.

He retired from Wagner Electric in St. Louis. He was a life member of VFW Post 4282 in Perryville, Mo.

Herbert was a loving husband to Rufina Stueve-Hunt 30 years. They faithfully attended Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown, and enjoyed many activities together such as gardening, fishing and square dancing. She preceded him in death in 1995.

Survivors include a stepdaughter, Rufina Hunt Behnke and son-in-law, Albert Behnke, of Memphis, Tenn.; a brother, Kenneth Burgan of Columbia, Mo.; grandchildren, William Hunt with the U.S. Air Force in England, John (Cynthia) Behnke and Christy Behnke Hill of Memphis, Jeff (Bekah) Behnke of Fayetteville, Ga.; a niece, Diane Mruzik and husband Andy Mruzik of Cape Girardeau; and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Cletus Woodrow Burgan and John Robert Burgan Jr.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Jackson and after 9 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Shawneetown.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the church. Burial will be in the church cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saxony Lutheran High School in Jackson.

Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.