Lynda Creutzburg

Lynda Creutzburg January 20, 1944 - March 3, 2026 Wake Forest, North Carolina - Lynda Faye Hicks Creutzburg, 82, found rest and peace on March 3, 2026, at her home with husband, Earl, and her children at her side. She was born in Wake County, the daughter of the late Charlie Hicks and Lizzie Estelle Honeycutt Hicks. Lynda was a 1962 graduate of Wake Forest High School, where she wrote for the school newspaper. She later moved to Illinois with her husband, Larry Hansen, and their infant daughter, Lori, and soon after welcomed a son, Eric. Lynda earned her nursing degree at Parkland College, Champaign, in 1973. She built a distinguished nursing career at Mercy Hospital (now OSF Heart of Mary Medical Center), serving in a variety of nursing capacities, including unit care, the ER, informatics, and employee health and infection control (CIC). She retired in 2002. While working full-time as a nurse and single mother, she received her BA and MSEd degrees from Eastern Illinois University and an MS degree at St. Francis University. She kept her nursing license throughout her life. For the last 25 years, she was a consultant to the Institutional Review Board (IRB), which reviews clinical studies on many important drugs and vaccines that affect all our lives. In Urbana, Lynda raised her children, forged deep and lifelong friendships, and dedicated herself to people, community, and the world around her. She loved to garden and entertain, and found joy and camaraderie in her bridge group, the Champaign Ski Club, and the Parkland College bowling league. She was equally engaged in civic life, serving on the Urbana Park District Advisory Committee, volunteering with the Mental Health Center of Champaign County - where she served on their Board of Directors and as secretary from 1990 to 1999 - and as a member of Grand Prairie Friends, an organization dedicated to preserving the tallgrass prairies of East-Central Illinois. After retirement and moving back to North Carolina in 2004, Lynda was an active Master Gardener for 15 years, a beekeeper, president of Friends of the Wake Forest Library, member of the Wake County Library Commission, active member and officer in the Wake Forest Garden Club, secretary of her high school class alumni, Waterfall book club member, founding member of the Neuse River Hawks Conservationists, supporter of the arts, conservation, and animal welfare. Additionally, Lynda remained an avid bridge player and enthusiastic shopper. She was a member of Wake Union Baptist Church and, more recently, the Unitarian Universalist Peace Fellowship, Raleigh, where she held various positions. She is survived by her husband of 33 years, Earl Creutzburg; daughter, Lori Hansen (Michael Kramer), Urbana, IL; son, Eric Hansen (Jennifer), Champaign, IL; grandson, Oskar Hansen, Champaign, IL; brother, Larry Hicks (Ernestine), Raleigh; and sister, Kitty Pulisfer (Richard), Oxford. Also surviving are stepdaughter, Kathy Creutzburg (Kris Enos), Brooklyn, NY; stepson, Brian Creutzburg (Megan), Portland, OR; step-grandchildren, Klay-James Enos, New York, NY; Blake Enos (Danielle), Groton, NY; Ashlan Creutzburg, Portland, OR, and Ada Creutzburg, Portland, OR. Additionally, surviving are nieces, a nephew, great-nieces and great-nephew living in North Carolina. Lynda is also survived by the Hansen family - Larry and his brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews - with whom she maintained close and loving ties throughout her life. Her many pets over the years enriched and comforted her life: Max, Thai, Kiki, Homunculus, and Angus. Lynda would like to be remembered for her love of family and friends who were so supportive during her prolonged illness. She was preceded in death by her brother, Linwood Hicks, Raleigh and a sister, Ruth Murray, Wake Forest. Flowers are welcome and will be donated to the Wake Forest Garden Club's Flower Cart after the service, where they will be rearranged and enjoy a second life at local nursing homes. Memorial contributions may be made to the Champaign County Humane Society, https://www.cuhumane.org/donate/, 4003 Kearns Dr., Champaign, IL 61822; Urbana Park District, https://www.urbanaparks.org/make-a-donation, 303 W. University Ave., Urbana, IL 61801; Wake Forest Garden Club, PO Box 26, Wake Forest, NC 27588; Unitarian Universalist PEACE Fellowship, PO Box 97702, Raleigh, NC 27624, or to a charity of your choice. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held in the chapel at Bright Funeral Home, 405 S. Main St., Wake Forest, NC 27587, on Saturday, March 28, 2026, 3 pm. The visitation will be 2 to 3 pm preceding the service. Then a reception immediately following the service will be held at the Norse Brewing Co., 203 Brooks St., Wake Forest. Please visit www.brightfunerals.com to share words of comfort to the family.