Theresa 'Tess' Buryanek, 92, of Westfield, Iowa passed away on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at home surrounded by family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at Our Lady of Gaudalupe Parish – St. Patrick's Church in Akron, Iowa.  Father Mauro Sanchez will celebrate Mass with Deacon Richard Port assisting.  Private family interment will be at the Westfield Township Cemetery, Westfield, Iowa.  Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2023, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron, Iowa.  There will be a Scriptural Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.  Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Akron. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Theresa (Schumacher) Buryanek was born Feb 7, 1931, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, the daughter of Leonard and Mary (Bradley) Schumacher.   She was raised in Emmetsburg and attended St Mary's Catholic school, graduating in 1949. Tess and her sisters helped their mother raise the kids, all 11 of them, after the untimely passing of her father in 1947.

Upon graduation Tess attended Ellis School of Cosmetology in Sioux City, Iowa, graduating in 1950. One evening her and a friend attended a dance in Westfield Iowa where she met the love of her life, Leonard Buryanek.

They were united in marriage on December 29, 1951, in Emmetsburg, Iowa. They made their home on a farm near Westfield, later moving to town. Therese was a stay-at-home mom raising 5 children. She was involved with the local PTA, St. Catherines Church, and Church guild. In 1972, she took the job of school cook at Westfield Community Schools. When the school joined with Akron in 1981, Tess and longtime friend Bonnie Lahr joined the staff at the newly formed Akron Westfield Community School. She worked there through 1994, completing 23 years of food preparation.

Theresa loved music, reading, refinishing furniture, collecting music boxes, collecting blue cobalt, and doing ceramics. Theresa also enjoyed going to her children's sporting events, playing cribbage, an occasional game of poker with Corban, and family. Tess and her sisters loved to sing at family gatherings. There was always some music, and nobody ever went hungry.

The Grandkids loved visiting her home and were always included in games like Skipbo, Phase 10 and UNO. Some grandchildren even accused grandma of helping them cheat. She loved the times spent with family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

A favorite past time was ceramics, which she did in Akron. All 5 children have a beautiful hand painted Christmas Tree, several Santa's, and a variety of other creations. Every grandchild and great grandchild have their very own ceramic Christmas tree. She continued to make trees at her dining room table but would gladly clear a spot for a game with family members of all ages.

Tess will be missed, but remembered as a kind and loving mother, grandmother, and friend to many. Survivors include her 5 children: Donald (Sue) Buryanek of Wayne, NE, Pat (Mike) Conley of Sioux City, IA, Gary (Kim) Buryanek of Sioux City, IA, Doug Buryanek of Westfield, IA, friend Noelle Knapp, and Julie (John) Hitchcock of Council Bluffs, IA; 15 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren. Sister:  Karen (Sid) Zylstra of Emmetsburg, Sisters in Law Linda Schumacher, Perry Iowa, Mary Osborn of Kellogg, IA, Marlis (Frank) Asprey of Sacramento, CA, Delores Buryanek of Westfield, IA, and Marilyn Schumacher of Joliet, IL; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Leonard and Mary (Bradley) Schumacher, her husband of 59 years, Leonard Buryanek, siblings and their spouses, Michael Schumacher, Gene Schumacher, Leonard Schumacher, Keyron Schumacher, Connie (John) Siliga, Edna (Eddie) O'Conner, Mary (Joe) Meissner, Elizabeth (Ray) Olsen, and Alice (Clarence) Weinzetl.  In-laws: Millie (Clyde) Westrosky, Helen (Adam) Tindall, Betty (Bob) Phillips, Jim Buryanek, Frank (Marlene) Buryanek, Vera (Donald) Diediker, Arnold Bollhofer, Roger Osborne.