Gertrude Wiersema “Billie” Lundberg was a 30-year Glenview resident. A graduate of Evanston Township High School, she became a registered nurse by completing courses through the Evanston Hospital's nursing program. She worked at Evanston and Swedish Covenant Hospitals for a number of years. During the 1950s, she was a leader for the Girl Scouts, Boys Scouts and YMCA. In 1953, she was a summer-camp nurse for the YMCA.

Billie Lundberg became interested in genealogy in the 1940s. By visiting cemeteries, historical societies and libraries, she became immersed in the art. She and her husband, Bernhard Jr., began collecting genealogical and historical materials. Cemetery cataloging was a favorite activity of hers. Her genealogical odysseys soon extended into doing work for friends and a number of prominent people, including the founding fathers of Glenview.

In 1965, Billie began researching her own family tree, a task that took her to Holland. She undertook her first genealogical project in 1966, The Peacock Family from England, 1835. In 1970, she co-founded the South Suburban Genealogical Society with friend and fellow genealogist Ira Bishop of Homewood, Illinois. Over the years, she authored numerous articles and books on specific family histories.

After retiring from genealogical research, Billie continued to catalog genealogy books and periodicals for the Glenview Public Library, and to teach its librarians how to help patrons do genealogy searches. In 1970 Billie also helped computerize the circulation records of the Glenview, Arlington Heights, and Mount Prospect Public Libraries.

Billie donated her genealogical research, more than 350 books, and more than 300 issues of more than 60 periodicals to the Glenview Public Library. The Lundberg collection does not circulate. It includes birth, marriage, death, tax, and property records from all over the U.S. and from various centuries; lists of people buried throughout Illinois; and information about almost everyone who lived in Glenview before 1900. It also includes magazines from various genealogical societies, 40 books on Chicago’s history, and much more.

Billie Lundberg died on Tuesday, April 2, 1996, at the age of 80 in Glen Bridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Niles. She was survived by her husband, Bernie Jr.; a daughter, Nancy Miller; a son, Larry; six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Sources:
Chicago Sun Times Apr. 5, 1996
Chicago Tribune Apr. 5, 1996. p. 10
Chicago Tribune Oct. 18, 1989. p. 13
Glenview Announcements October 18, 1989