Eleanor L. Burns

Eleanor L. Burns (Ackerman), 93, died September 4, 2022 at Rennes Health and Rehabilitation Center, Weston, WI. She was born February 25, 1929, in Belvidere, IL, the daughter of the late Erfried and Elsie (Johnson) Ackerman.
Those who knew Eleanor were struck by her graciousness and consideration for others above her own gratification. Her love and service were in the name of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in whom she found forgiveness and fulfillment. Examples of this devotion to service included her dedication to nearly 20 years of full-time caring for her husband, Allen, whose capacities became increasingly diminished by the effects of a stroke. Since his death in 2019, her love was focused on those with whom she lived - first at Mountain Terrace and most recently at Rennes. Although her own abilities faded, her concern for others did not. Her caregivers and friends referred to her as a Sweetie.
Eleanor met Allen at a church baseball game in Belvidere and began their 69-year marriage in 1950. She and Allen enjoyed many travel experiences during their lives together, starting with a honeymoon to Montana and Canada, and a post-retirement trip to Norway. She also visited Ireland.
Between the honeymoon and retirement, she raised four children and worked at several jobs including dental technician, seamstress, and 12 years at Warner Lambert in Loves Park, IL as quality control inspector and receptionist. Throughout her life, she was a faithful wife, mother, and grandmother embracing both roles as service to her Lord. In addition, she was involved in many capacities at her churches - Immanuel Lutheran in Belvidere, IL and St Paul Lutheran in Rockford, IL for 42 years each. She had a beautiful voice, sang as a soloist, and also loved being part of the church choir.
As her health declined and Allen's need for care increased, the family moved Allen and Eleanor to Wausau, WI to be closer to her daughters. Allen & Eleanor lived together at Mountain Terrace for 6 years and after his entry to Heaven, she lived alone there for another two years before moving to Rennes in 2022.
Eleanor is survived by her four children Austin Burns, Bonita (George) Ickstadt, Kevin Burns, and Susan (William) Meyer and by one grandson Austin Burns. Besides her parents and grandparents, she was preceded in death by her husband Allen, her brother Melvin "Dutch" Ackerman, and her grandson Jacob Burns.
The family deeply appreciates the health care given to her at Mountain Terrace and at Rennes by their own team and by Aspirus Hospice, and the spiritual care by her Pastors at Christ Lutheran Church.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4881 Kilburn Ave., Rockford. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m. prior to the service. Burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will direct memorials to pro-life organizations. To send a condolence or share a memory, visit olsonfh.com .