Charles Burmeister

SEELEY LAKE - Charles Fredrick William Burmeister, 83, of Seeley Lake, died of pneumonia Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, at St. Patrick Hospital, surrounded by family.





He was born June 12, 1925, in Woodhaven, Long Island, N.Y., the son of the late John and Anna Burmeister. He was the youngest of three siblings.





He graduated from Jamaica High School in 1943. After graduation, Charlie immediately volunteered for the Navy. He was assigned to Brown University in Rhode Island for flight school. With the war winding down, additional pilots were not required and Charlie was transferred to a submarine chaser off the East Coast. He obtained the rank of chief petty officer and received an honorable discharge.





After his discharge, he attended a college in New York City and graduated with an associate degree in electrical engineering in 1947.





On April 9, 1949, he married Marion Ruth Schmutz. Charlie and Marion lived on Long Island, N.Y., where they raised their two sons, Steve and Roger. Charlie coached Little League baseball and was a Boy Scout group leader. In 1961, the family moved to Doylestown, Penn., when Charlie was granted a large promotion working for Kolman Motors. In 1962, they adopted a Korean-American girl, Ann Kim, through the Pearl Buck Foundation.





Charlie worked in the electrical field of small and miniature motors. He worked for Philco-Ford building motors for top-secret missile guidance systems. He eventually found his place with Pittman Corp. for the past 14 years of his working career as a manufacturing engineer, retiring in 1988.





After retiring, Charlie and Marion moved to Montana where his gift of selfless volunteering continued as he donated his time and skills to organizations such as the Raptor Room, Alpine Artisans and other volunteer groups. Charlie would never refuse to help anyone.





He is survived by his wife Marion; son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Denise Burmeister of Doylestown, Pa.; son and daughter-in-law, Roger and Cheryl Burmeister of Missoula; adopted daughter Ann and son-in-law, John Curran of Indianapolis; grandchildren, Derek, Rory, Sierra, Ava Burmeister and Frank Baker; and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren.





Charlie was preceded in death by his brothers Eugene and Herbert.





Graveside services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, at the Western Montana State Veterans’ Cemetery, 1911 Tower St., Missoula. A service will be held at The Springs at 1 p.m., Friday, Feb. 6, led by the Reverend Judith Anderson. Please join us at the reception following the service.





Arrangements are under the direction and care of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.






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