Gerelene Marie Burry (79) of Effingham

Gerelene Marie Burry, 79, of Effingham, IL, quietly passed away at 1:02 a.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2020 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL, with her two boys by her side.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 5 at First Baptist Church in Effingham. Burial will be in Arborcrest Memorial Park in Effingham. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham. Memorials may be made to The Gideons International or First Baptist Church. Online condolences may be shared by clicking here.

Gerelene was born on May 19, 1940, in Wheatland Township, IL, to Vernon and Alice (Miller) Runge. Gerelene, or “Gerry” as some knew her, married Jack Burry on July 3, 1966. In 1969 and 1976, they became parents to their two sons. They spent 38 wonderful years raising their boys, traveling the world and working side-by-side for Standard Life Insurance, until Jack’s untimely death on October 17, 2004. Gerelene very much enjoyed being a social butterfly by attending church functions at First Baptist, playing bingo, cards, quilting, gardening, and camping. Most of all, we’re pretty sure that her favorite thing was to be a grandmother to her six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Gerelene is survived by her sons, LaRue (wife, Amy) Burry of Strasburg and Leon (wife, Amber) Burry of Effingham; grandchildren, Nikita, Mia, Koda, Savanah, John, and Emma; and great-grandchildren, Annalida and Renesmee. She is also survived by her siblings, Melvin Runge, Laverne (wife, Tonya) Runge and Arilla Miller; sister-in-law, Glenda Burry; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Jack Burry; and parents, Vernon and Alice Runge.