03/16/2005
Alberta Faye (Breuklander) Rankin was born on April 11, 1945, in Pella, Iowa.
She was the daughter of Nellie Margaret Breuklander and James Manford Burkhart.
Alberta was known by most people as Bert. Bert grew up in Harvey and attended school in Knoxville.
On December 14, 1963, Alberta was united in marriage to Sherril Ray
Rankin. Bert lived in Harvey until moving to Knoxville about three years ago.
She enjoyed babysitting and visiting with friends and family. Spending time with her husband, Sherril was a priority in Bert’s life.
Bert was devoted to Sherril and loved him dearly. She was a member of the Harvey Assembly of God Church. Since moving to Knoxville, Bert had attended the Eden Valley Four Square Church.
Bert enjoyed playing bingo, especially at the Harvey Community Center where she could visit as she played. Collecting things such as purses, chickens, roosters, and hummingbirds
was a favorite pass time.
Alberta “Bert” Faye Rankin passed away on Wednesday, March
16, 2005 at the Knoxville Area Community Hospital at the age of 59 years, 11 months, and 5 days. Alberta’s mother, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brother-in-law, and sister-in-law
preceded her in death.
Those family members left to mourn her passing are her husband
of 40 years, Sherril Rankin of Newton, formerly of Harvey; her father, James Burkhart
of Knoxville; two sisters, Dixie and her husband, Allen Smith of Knoxville, and Linda
Coe of Des Moines; three brothers and their wives, Dick and Connie Breuklander of
Oskaloosa, Ralph and Erma Sorenson of Harvey and Bob and Theresa Burkhart of Pershing;
one step-sister, Donna Bowen of Oskaloosa; one step-brother and his wife, LeRoy
and Janita Almond of Rose Hill; two sisters-in-law, Luella De Maria and Roberta
and her husband, Gerald Orr of Knoxville as well as numerous nieces, nephews and
great-nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life was held for Alberta “Bert” Faye
Rankin on Saturday, March 19, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Knoxville with Pastor Michael Miller officiating.
Interment was in Zion Cemetery in rural
Marion County, Iowa. Casket bearers were David Breuklander, Billy Burkhart, Geoff
De Maria, Rodney Fairchild, Mike Smith, and Daniel Sorenson. Musical selections were
“The Family of God’, “In the Garden” and “One Day At a Time”. Darlene Mooberry was
the organist. Libby Miller was the vocalist.
Memorials in memory of Alberta were
given to her family. Williams Funeral Home handled the arrangements.