Long-time Clinton resident, Paul Burden, passed away on Saturday, December 28, 2013, at his home, Bickford Cottage in Clinton, at the age of 95. A visitation will take place at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Clinton on Friday, January 3, 2014 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. a funeral mass will take place at Prince of Peace Catholic Church on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 10 a.m. Lemke Funeral Homes assisted the family with arrangements.
Paul was born March 12, 1918, in Albany, Illinois to Richard and Mary Alice Devine Burden. He graduated from high school in Erie, Illinois in 1936. He enlisted in the Illinois National Guard later that year. He served in the United States Army as a staff sergeant on active duty beginning in 1941. He received the bronze star for bravery. He was wounded during his service in France and was evacuated to a field hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He received an honorable discharge in 1945. He was a founding member of the Albany, Illinois American Legion Post and was also a member of the Clinton Amvets Club.
Paul married Regina Madonna Moroney on October 2, 1948, at St. John's Catholic Church in Independence, Iowa. Paul and Madonna settled in Clinton where he began his accounting career with Clinton Corn Processing Company. He was asked to serve as manager of the Clinco Employees Credit Union; he served the employees in that role for 25 years. He worked for the company a total of 35 years. Following his retirement from Clinco Employees Credit Union, he continued to work at a series of part-time jobs, including the Job Service of Iowa as an older worker specialist. He completed his working career at age 90.
Paul loved to work, he loved to play golf, he loved to tell jokes, he loved his family and he lived his faith. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church beginning in 1946; that parish joined the other parishes in Clinton to form Price of Peace Catholic Church. During his years of membership in the parish, he served in many leadership roles: he and Madonna were the first co-president couple of the St. Mary's Grade School Parent Teacher Association; he sold advertising for the parish calendar; he began the ham dinner, a tradition which lasted many years; and he served the parish whenever and in whatever manner he was asked to serve.
Paul and Madonna had four children. She preceded him in death in 2005; they celebrated 57 years of marriage.
Preceding Paul in death were his parents, Richard and Mary Alice Burden; his siblings and their spouses: Richard Leo and Mary Burden, Raymond and Eva Burden; Robert K. Burden, Senior, and Dorothy Burden; Genevieve Burden Burns and Si Burns; Thomas Burden and Marge Burden; and John Burden. Only his sister-in-law, Bee Burden, survives from that generation. He was also preceded in death by his nephew, Robert K. Burden, Junior, and his son, Charlie Burden.
Paul is survived by his four children: Susan Burden Leonard and her husband, Richard Burden Leonard, of Windsor Heights, Iowa; Joseph Richard Burden and his wife, Melinda Tate Burden, of Chicago; Mark Lawrence Burden and his wife, Maura Howerdd Burden, of Atlanta; and Terrance Michael Burden and his wife, Daria Scriven, of Park City, Utah. Paul is also survived by seven grandchildren: Brendan Burden Leonard and his wife, Heather Pahl; Conor Burden Leonard and his wife, Cameron Duffy; Elizabeth Burden Watson and her husband, Adam Watson; Anna Moroney Burden; Casey Colleen Burden; Quinton Howerdd Burden and Owen Armstrong Burden. Paul is also survived by three great grandchildren: Kian Pahl Leonard, Adelynn Grace Pahl Leonard and Louise Caroline Leonard.
The Burden family is grateful for the compassionate care provided to Paul and Madonna by the staff at Bickford Cottage and by Mercy Hospice Services.
Memorials made will be directed to Jesus Christ Prince of Peace Church or Mercy Hospice.

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