Leo K. "Shorty" Burmeister
June 21, 1919 — December 17, 2013
Funeral Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2013 at United Presbyterian Church, Denison, Iowa
Visitation: From 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 22, 2013 at Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa
Burial: Crawford Heights Memory Gardens, Denison, Iowa
Leo K. “Shorty” Burmeister was born on the farm at Buck Grove, Iowa, June 21, 1919, the son of Emil and Helena Hulsebus Burmeister. He was raised there and received his education in the local rural schools. After his education he worked for area farmers. Shorty served his country during World War II entering the United States Marine Corps April 7, 1944, and received an honorable medical discharge October 1, 1945. He was awarded the “Purple Heart” for wounds suffered at Iwo Jima. Following his discharge he returned to Denison. On August 16, 1946, Shorty was united in marriage with Elvera Lorraine McClellan at the United Presbyterian Church in Denison. They made their home in Denison where their union was blessed with three children: Mark, Linda and Connie. Shorty was employed at various jobs in Denison until 1953 when he began his 26 year career in maintenance with the post office, retiring in 1976. He spent his retirement years in Denison where he had more time to pursue his hobbies of fishing, hunting and woodworking. In later years he was caretaker for his wife Lorraine until her death October 12, 2005. Shorty was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Denison and served on the Denison Fire Department for 22 years. He enjoyed his long time and active memberships in the Ninus L. Hunt V.F.W. Post #2504 and American Legion Post 8 in Denison and the D.A.V. in Storm Lake. After living in his same home in Denison since 1950, Shorty moved to the Reed House in Denison in March of 2006. In March of 2008 he moved to Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison where his death occurred late Tuesday, December 17, 2013. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 94 years, 5 months and 26 days. Shorty was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Helena Burmeister, and his wife Lorraine. Those remaining to cherish his memory include three children: Mark Burmeister and wife Deanna of Omaha, Nebraska, Linda Arends and husband Neal of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Connie Porter of Denison, Iowa; two grandchildren: Lisa Ellis and husband Ryan and Nathan Arends, all of Marshalltown, Iowa; two great grandchildren: Ava and Jaymus Ellis of Marshalltown, Iowa; sisters: Gladys Groth, Doris Kahl and Helen Beermann, all of Denison, Iowa; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2013 at United Presbyterian Church in Denison with the Rev. Paul Seefeldt officiating. Congregational hymns were “In The Garden” and “Amazing Grace” with Ann Voggesser serving as organist. Pallbearers were Nathan Arends, Ryan Ellis, Tom Groth, Michael McClellan, Donald Kahl and Ron Beermann. Interment, with Military Honors, provided by American Legion Post 8, Denison, Iowa was at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens, Denison, Iowa. Taps were played by Tara Meinen. Following the graveside rites and burial the family invited everyone to join them at the church for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the United Presbyterian Women. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa was in charge of arrangements where a visitation was held on Sunday, December 22, 2013 from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m.
Visitation: From 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Sunday, December 22, 2013 at Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa
Burial: Crawford Heights Memory Gardens, Denison, Iowa
Leo K. “Shorty” Burmeister was born on the farm at Buck Grove, Iowa, June 21, 1919, the son of Emil and Helena Hulsebus Burmeister. He was raised there and received his education in the local rural schools. After his education he worked for area farmers. Shorty served his country during World War II entering the United States Marine Corps April 7, 1944, and received an honorable medical discharge October 1, 1945. He was awarded the “Purple Heart” for wounds suffered at Iwo Jima. Following his discharge he returned to Denison. On August 16, 1946, Shorty was united in marriage with Elvera Lorraine McClellan at the United Presbyterian Church in Denison. They made their home in Denison where their union was blessed with three children: Mark, Linda and Connie. Shorty was employed at various jobs in Denison until 1953 when he began his 26 year career in maintenance with the post office, retiring in 1976. He spent his retirement years in Denison where he had more time to pursue his hobbies of fishing, hunting and woodworking. In later years he was caretaker for his wife Lorraine until her death October 12, 2005. Shorty was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Denison and served on the Denison Fire Department for 22 years. He enjoyed his long time and active memberships in the Ninus L. Hunt V.F.W. Post #2504 and American Legion Post 8 in Denison and the D.A.V. in Storm Lake. After living in his same home in Denison since 1950, Shorty moved to the Reed House in Denison in March of 2006. In March of 2008 he moved to Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison where his death occurred late Tuesday, December 17, 2013. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 94 years, 5 months and 26 days. Shorty was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Helena Burmeister, and his wife Lorraine. Those remaining to cherish his memory include three children: Mark Burmeister and wife Deanna of Omaha, Nebraska, Linda Arends and husband Neal of Marshalltown, Iowa, and Connie Porter of Denison, Iowa; two grandchildren: Lisa Ellis and husband Ryan and Nathan Arends, all of Marshalltown, Iowa; two great grandchildren: Ava and Jaymus Ellis of Marshalltown, Iowa; sisters: Gladys Groth, Doris Kahl and Helen Beermann, all of Denison, Iowa; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2013 at United Presbyterian Church in Denison with the Rev. Paul Seefeldt officiating. Congregational hymns were “In The Garden” and “Amazing Grace” with Ann Voggesser serving as organist. Pallbearers were Nathan Arends, Ryan Ellis, Tom Groth, Michael McClellan, Donald Kahl and Ron Beermann. Interment, with Military Honors, provided by American Legion Post 8, Denison, Iowa was at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens, Denison, Iowa. Taps were played by Tara Meinen. Following the graveside rites and burial the family invited everyone to join them at the church for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by the United Presbyterian Women. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa was in charge of arrangements where a visitation was held on Sunday, December 22, 2013 from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m.
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