In Memoriam: Vera Burger

Our dear mother Vera Burger passed away on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at the age of 94 years. Mom will once again be with her beloved husband and our father Alex, Jr., who passed away on October 24, 1992, a day after his 65th birthday. She will also be reunited with her mother Cecelia, who passed away when Mom was only four years old. We know that she must have welcomed her daughter Vera with open arms.

Mom was born on July 19, 1929, near New Hamburg to Albert Joseph and Cecelia Westrich Glastetter. After the death of Cecilia, the family lived with Erwin and Agnes Glastetter, Albert's brother and Cecelia's sister, for several years until they were old enough to set up housekeeping with the help of Regina Wiedefeld. Mom credited her aunt Agnes with teaching her to cook. Mom was an amazing cook!

Mom entered St. Lawrence Parochial School in New Hamburg speaking only German. She must have progressed fast despite language barriers because Sister Bibiana later promoted her two grades in one year. She also attended St. Mary's High School in Cape Girardeau.

Vera married Alexander Anthony Burger, Jr. at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, May 28, 1946, at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in New Hamburg as was the custom of the day. Mom's aunts and Dad's sisters cooked the three wedding meals in the summer kitchen at Dad's family home near Kelso, with the dance being held back in New Hamburg.

Our mother made a fun and loving home at a farm near New Hamburg for all of us — Dad, Jackie, Danny, Robin, Jamie and Russell. She met the demands of raising five children by making our household fairly self-sufficient by way of sewing, gardening and canning. She transported us and our friends back and forth to St. Lawrence and Kelly High School for sports and other activities. Somehow, all seven of us made it to 7:00 AM Mass every Sunday on time even with Dad playing country music as loud as he could!

She belonged to St. Anne's Sodality, was a charter member of Scott County Extension Club, a 4-H Club volunteer and served as an election judge for Scott County. She enjoyed playing Bingo with her good friend Luella Kern at the KC Hall in Oran on Tuesday nights. She and another good friend Lorena Buessink operated a private residential cleaning business. Many of the families she cleaned for considered her to be a part of their family. She also worked for her cousin Mary Ann Robert and her late husband Gilbert in their restaurant and catering business.

She and Dad were known for being savvy Euchre players and won several tournaments. They were also sports enthusiasts. Dad played fast-pitch softball and Mom cheered him on as both did many more times for their children and grandchildren. Mom continued the tradition for their great-grandchildren. They held season tickets for the St. Louis Cardinals football team. They liked to host parties and fish fries for First Communions, graduations, birthdays, and sometimes for no reason at all, other than to have family and friends together at the farm. These impromptu get togethers were legendary for fun, laughter, cold beer, and good food. The grandkids would play wiffleball, explore the barns, and fall off the merry go round too many times to count! Later, Mom had an open-door policy of lunch on Mondays to anyone who wanted to drop in.

Her passion was her flowers and plants, and her green thumb was apparent if you ever saw her yard. She never missed an episode of "The Bold and the Beautiful", laughed at scenes from "Wheel of Fortune", and loved to catch up on all the latest star gossip with The National Enquirer. In addition, she was known for her sense of style, and was always well dressed.

She was known as Grandma Vera and was beloved to many — not just to her own family. She possessed an innate ability to draw out whatever concern or worry that was on your mind, and then made you feel it wasn't so bad after all.

We feel extremely fortunate to have had Mom with us for so many years with good health in mind and body. She never failed to amaze us with her knowledge of what was happening in the local area and the world at large. Most importantly, she was the go-to person for the family and kept us all up to date on the latest. We shall miss that greatly.

She is survived by Daughter Jacqueline and Steven Griffith and their family: daughter Kelly and husband Mark Winder and children Jacqueline Winder and Blaise Winder; and daughter Deidre and husband Shawn Belmar and children Price Belmar, Bailey Belmar and Cash Rodgers.

Son Daniel and Patricia Margrabe Burger and their family: son Matthew and wife Jaime Mayberry Burger and children Cassidy Spane and Owen Spane; son Blake Burger (Jenny Plain) and children Macy Burger and Mallory Burger; and daughter Lyndsey and husband Derek Ham and children Devon Ham, Diamond Ham, Nathan Ham, Blake Mosby and Easton Mosby.

Son Alexander Robin III and Nancy Johnson Burger and their family: son Alexander Heath IV and Karen Riley Burger and children Alexander Burger (fiance Hattie Burdin), Riley Burger and Kole Burger; daughter Heather and Dustin Benson and children Luke Benson and Drew Benson; son Brett and Jessica Burnett Burger and children Kendall Burger, Rocky Burger and Mabrey Burger; and son Mark Burger (Shayla Tanner).

Son James and Sherry Urhahn Burger and their family: daughter Vanessa and John Koepp and children Kenzi Koepp, Bryce Morgan and Charlee Koepp; daughter Allison and Wesley Page and children Claire Page, Brock Page and Jett Page; and daughter Paris and Tyler Beardslee and children Max Beardslee and Maverick Beardslee.

Son Russell and Stephanie Westrich Burger and their family: son Dr. Major and Monica Senciboy Burger and children Mila Burger and Merci Burger; daughter Kristain and Thomas Carroll and children Knox Carroll and Vera Grace Carroll; and daughter Summer and Nathan Meystedt.

Mom was preceded in death by her parents, sister and brother-in-law Anita "Needy" and Arthur Ziegler, granddaughter Celeste Elizabeth Burger, and grandson-in-law Justin Mosby.

We wish to extend sincere appreciation to Chaffee Nursing Center and Crown Hospice. We appreciate care throughout the years by Dr. Christopher Bauer, the staff at Regional Primary Care, Ms. Amy Thompson and staff at Chaffee Drug Store, Saint Francis Hospital and the Emergency Room, particularly Michelle Williams, and a special note of appreciation to Mom's neighbors who always looked out for her well-being.

Visitation will be on Thursday, October 5th from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Father Al Stevens Hall at St. Lawrence Parish in New Hamburg, with the funeral Mass on Friday, October 6th at 10:00 AM at St. Lawrence Church. Reverend Daniel Belken will officiate along with Monsignor Normand Varone. Burial will be in St. Lawrence Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Lawrence Church, mailing address of PO Box 247, Benton MO 63736.

Online condolences may be shared at the Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel website, www.amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.