"I have just seen this obituary of the passing of Sunny and I can\'t tell you how terribly sorry I am to hear of her passing. I have thought of her so many times through the years and wondered if she was still living at the farm. I have such fond memories of the summers my parents, siblings and I came to visit the Tabors at the farm, and of the times the Tabor family spent with us in Wheaton and up at our lake cottage in Michigan. We always had so much fun and I treasure those times. Sunny was such a wonderful, caring person and I thought the world of her (as did my entire family). I remember the nights my parents (Dick and Dorothy) and Jack and Sunny spent playing pinochle and bridge up at the lake til all hours, the times we had visiting the farm playing badmitten and croquet, the wonderful dinners Sunny made at the end of the day, playing with all the kittens you always had at the farm, riding the horses with Jack, sleeping in the upstairs bedroom and coming down the stairs with the stone walls, trying to milk the cows, just enjoying the countryside. My parents adored Sunny and Jack and they (Sunny and my mom) remained such close friends from grade school on. I just wanted to extend my deepest sympathies to your entire family on the loss of this incredible woman. My heart is broken to hear of her passing. Much love, Linda Hvale Dickerson "
In loving memory of
Shirley Ann Tabor
May 16, 1928 - September 28, 2019
Shirley Ann Tabor passed away on Saturday, September 28, 2019, at Genesis Hospital in Davenport. Shirley was born in Chicago, IL on May 16, 1928, to Elwood Burkland and Mary Worthington Burkland. She attended George Williams College, where she was on the swim team, and Cornell College. At a Thanksgiving visit with a college friend to the Tabor family farm near Baldwin, IA, she met and fell in love with Jack Tabor. They married on February 19, 1949. Jack and Shirley farmed and raised a family together for 50 years.
After Jack's death in 1999, Shirley stayed at the stone farm house, which remained the gathering place for family get-togethers and celebrations, until her passing. She loved tending her roses and being actively involved with the Tabor Home Winery. She was an avid Chicago Cubs fan, a voracious reader and a wise commentator on current events. Shirley was active in the Maquoketa United Church of Christ (UCC), 4-H, and numerous charities. She treasured the time she spent with her family.
She is survived by her children Paul (Martha) Tabor of Dubuque, Anne Tabor of Iowa City, Eric (Mike Youngstrom) Tabor of West Des Moines, and Mary (Phil Roeder) Tabor of Des Moines; daughter-in-law Jonna Jensen of Baldwin; grandchildren Ben, Kate, Megan, Emily, Maureen, Noah, Oliver, Hannah, and Sam; great grandchildren Lily, Charlie, Adeena, Amara, and Aliyan; and a brother Woody Burkland of Naperville, IL. She was preceded in death by husband Jack and her parents.
The family would like to express gratitude to those who tenderly cared for Shirley at Genesis Hospital.
A private graveside burial ceremony will be conducted. A celebration of Shirley's life will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at the Maquoketa UCC. Memorials may be sent to the UCC's Iowa OCWM or the Ron Santo Diabetic Alert Dog Foundation.
The Carson Celebration of Life Center in Maquoketa is caring for the family and online condolences may be left at www.CarsonAndSon.com.
Tributes
"Mrs. Tabor was so well thought of by our family. Mom and dad appreciated all her work in the church and valued she and Jack as friends. I really loved being in her Sunday school class. I remember asking her why we don?t look up when we pray? I remember saying ?you ca n do that if it seems right to you Kendall! She was fun, thoughtful and a great listener. We all thought a great deal of her in the Fate family. Kendall Fate "
"Paul and Martha, So sorry for the loss of her Mom. We always enjoyed visiting with her at the winery. You are in our thoughts and prayers."
"What can I say,I loved her humor, her compassion,how Jack and she,loved my calls to WMt ,and her whole fa mily,who make m efeel that I have a right to be on the face of the earth,peace love rob"
"I last saw Shirley at Eric and Michael?s wedding at the stone house. Shirley was full of life, happy about everyone being there for the wedding and her mind and wit was sharp and she was so fun to talk to and hear about her family and current events. She was a wonderful, kind and generous person and I?m glad I got to spend that day with her."
"Sending our heartfelt sympathy in the loss of your dear Shirley. Harold and Joyce Hutchins"
"Tabor Family, I am so sorry for your loss! I went to church with Shirley & initially got to know her in 1972 when she led the Children's Choir. That was also the year I got my 1st Bible and I listed "Mrs. Tabor" as 1 of my 3 church friends. Later she was my Sunday School Teacher and eventually I sang in the adult choir with her. She was one of the kindest people I've ever met. And she was such a fun person! And she was definitely one of THEE most patient and grace-filled people I've ever met. She touched so many lives! She will truly be missed! All My Sympathy to the entire family! Michelle Maze Hughes "
"Prayers for the Tabor family, Mrs Tabor was a good person, I remember her from church and being our Sunday school teacher ! May she rest in peace
Candie Potter Emery "
"Dear Tabor Family, The pleasure of knowing your mother was truly a wonderful blessing! She was consistently an amazingly pleasant, powerful, and inspirational person. Every time I had the pleasure of being around her, I always felt uplifted. She lived an amazing life! THANK GOD SHE GOT TO SEE _HER_ CUBBIES WIN THE WORLD SERIES! "
"Warm thoughts and prayers to the whole Tabor family. It's clear that Shirley was an amazing person! "
"Tabor Family, I am so sorry to hear of Shirley's passing. She was a very special lady! I have many fond memories of her especially through the church. She and mom made up a great tenor/baritone section in the choir in the old days!! Thoughs and prayers are with you all. Pat Smith"
"Paul & Martha,
So sorry for your family's loss. She was such a nice lady. You are all in our prayers."
"So sorry to of the passing of Shirley. Ace and JoNell"