Wilma J. Burgland, 83, of Kearney died Monday, April 16, 2012 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. 

Memorial services will be Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney.  Rev. Dean Pofahl will officiate and burial of her ashes will be at a later date.  Memorials are suggested to Peterson Senior Activity Center, Kearney, NE.  A message of condolence, tribute, or memory may be sent to www.hlmkfuneral.com  

Wilma was born August 26, 1928 in Hindry, NE. (southeast of Maxwell) to Vernon and Edna (McNeal) Holderness.  She grew up in and around the Elm Creek and Lexington area as her father worked on the railroad and was moved from town to town.  She graduated from Lexington High School in 1946.After graduation she married Merlin Burgland and they had four children.  She was a homemaker and in the early 60’s became a farmwife on their acreage south of Riverdale.  Many people in the area are familiar with “Apple Acres”.  After the children left home she became very involved in genealogy and did extensive research on the family histories.   She was a past member of the Buffalo County Historical Society and a past member of the Faith United Methodist Church.  In recent years she enjoyed her friendships at The Lodge restaurant, Kearney Senior Center, the VFW, Knights of Columbus and American Legion Hall where she loved to play bingo with her friends.  She will also be remembered as a true friend and a person who met challenges head on and always focused on living life to the fullest. 

She is survived by:

Son -----------------Dale and wife Doris Burgland of Kearney, NE 

Daughters ---------Connie Jensen Simard and husband Robert Simard of Lincoln NE 

                             Karen Smith of Kearney, NE 

Grandchildren ----Christopher Jensen of Scottsdale, AZ

                             Krista Burgland of Las Vegas, NV

                             Jenna Burgland of Los Angeles, CA

                             Shawn Smith of Minden, NE 

                             Felicia Smith of Kearney, NE 

                             Brandon Smith of Red Cloud, NE 

                             Eric Burgland, Cynthia Ring, and Angela Pruneda all of Omaha                  

 16 Great Grandchildren

 1 Great-Great Grandchild

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Wayne Holderness of Norfolk and one son Andrew in 1982. 

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