Walter R. Burger

Walter R. Burger, 82, of Barnes, WI passed away on Friday, March 9, 2012 at the Middle River Health and Rehabilitation Center.

Walt was born to Robert and Ovedea Burger on September 23, 1929 in Glendive, Montana. The family moved to Wisconsin and eventually settled in Hawthorne.

There he met his dance partner and soon to be wife, Marylin David. They married on September 1, 1951.

After serving in the United States Army, Walt and Marylin returned back to Hawthorne to raise their family and later moved to Wentworth after the house fire.

Walt was a heavy equipment operator and was known for his steady hand at operating the crane.

He was a member of the Operating Engineers Union Local #139 for fifty-seven years and retired in 1991 after working for more than thirty years for Modern Constructors.

After retirement, they continued to spend their winters in Hudson, FL where they developed a network of close friends, danced, played shuffleboard, watched Packer games, enjoyed Northwestern High School sports and relaxed in the warm afternoons with a favorite western show.

Spring would come and he could hardly wait to get back to his home “the cabin” and family.

He missed the smell of fresh dirt and grew restless to perfect and groom his yard and gardens.

Summers spent in Barnes, Wisconsin were filled with countless memories of his family events.

Taking home the trophy for the Fourth of July Parades was a family favorite.

The turning of fall leaves and temperatures dropping brought out the hunter in Walt as he waited anxiously for the “big buck” and bragging rights.

Walt worked hard and played hard, full of adventures with a plan in mind for the next prank.

He was our “Grumpy Old Man”. Laughter would be had by all when he told his stories of growing up with ten siblings, the tales of days gone by or one of his embellished adventures.

He focused his life on what was important to him, his family.

Everyone marveled with amazement at the size of his hands, but they were small compared to the size of his heart…and even when he did not have a voice, we heard his words spoken through his eyes and felt his sound in his big hands.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents, his siblings, Jake, Bob, Francis and Lucille Wasilewski; his stepsisters, Christine, Ellen, Viola and Jessie; his brothers-in-law, Bob and Eugene David and his sister-in-law, Barbara Halonen.

He is survived by his loving wife of sixty years, Marylin; four daughters, Doris (Brant) Hannula, of Poplar, WI, Rosanne (Mas) Fukushima, Owatonna, MN, Karen O’Brien (Darrell Dalbec) of Chaska, MN, Peggy (Scott) Moreland of Lake Nebagamon, WI; one son, Doug (Lauren Davidson) of Lake Nebagamon, WI; eleven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; five siblings, Leona Petrie of Marshfield, WI, Sally Phillips of McGregor, MN, Diane (Dan) Sellers of Iowa City, IA, Leroy (Lois) Burger of Wentworth, WI, Shirley Burger of Superior, WI; sisters-in-law, Dorothy of Superior and Marge Burger of Dahinda, IL; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family would like to express special thanks to the staff of Middle River Health and Rehabilitation Center for the wonderful care provided.

Visitation will begin at 11:00 AM until the 1:00 PM Funeral Service on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at Minnesuing Acres.

Pastor Darrell Kyle of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Nebagamon will officiate.

Interment will be in the Parkview Cemetery in Hawthorne, WI where military honors will be accorded by Bong-Hofstedt American Legion Post #409.

Pallbearers for the service will be Walt’s grandchildren and honorary pallbearers will be his great-grandchildren.

Lenroot-Maetzold Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

To send a condolence or sign the on-line guest book, visit our website at www.lenroot-maetzold.com.