grave import

Obituary

George Sanderson Pence, 75, of Burlington died at 9:32 p.m. Monday, March 13, 2006, at Great River Medical Center. Born September 16, 1930 in Galesburg, Illinois he was the son of George A. and Merle Sanderson Pence. He lived there until age 15 when he moved with his family to a farm on Irish Ridge Rd. On October 30, 1955 he married Donna J. Anderson at Latty Church. Mr. Pence was a 1948 graduate of Burlington High School. He worked as a pattern maker at Murray Foundry, and ran the Mobile Filling Station on the corner of Sunnyside and Cliff Rd. He was a good finish carpenter and a taxidermist in his spare time as a hobby. He was a former member of the N.R.A. and loved going on hunting trips for black bear in Canada, caribou and goat in British Columbia and dear and elk in Idaho and Colorado. He was known as the "Bear Hunter" for shooting 31 bears with 31 bullets. He was an avid outdoor sportsman and also enjoyed catfish fishing on the Iowa River near his cabin. He also enjoyed getting together with his friends at Catfish Bend Casino and felt special about all who work there. He loved going on Trailways Bus Tours that his wife Donna escorted. Most of all he loved his wife and soul mate Donna. Survivors include his wife of over 50 years, Donna Pence of Burlington; lifetime companion, Jo Tubbs; one brother, Francis Pence of Burlington; and one sister, Dolores Pence of Iowa City. His parents and one sister, Allena Brunken, preceded him in death. A memorial has been established for Burlington Fire Department Ambulance.