Ernest Burger

ERNEST BURGER

Worthington

Ernest Burger, 87, of rural Cascade, died Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Dubuque. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Kramer Funeral Home, 750 12th Ave. SW, Dyersville, where a memorial service will commence at 2 p.m. Interment will be at St. Paul's Cemetery in Worthington. Pastor Dennis Schmitt will officiate and the Marine Corps League of Dubuque and Cascade American Legion Post 528 will accord military honors.

Ernie was born Oct. 18, 1929, in rural Worthington, the son of Herman and Lavina (Stoll) Burger. He married Anne Lasche of Cascade in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed at White Sands Proving Grounds in Las Cruces, N.M. He worked on the first version of the Nike Surface to Air Missile, which was used during the Cold War. Following his honorable discharge in 1953, he returned to Worthington, where he and Ann operated Burger's Garage for the next 25 years. In 1977, they moved to their farm in rural Cascade, just one mile south of the home where Ernie was born.

In earlier years, Ernie enjoyed playing semi-pro baseball for the Worthington Cardinals, where he was known as a power-hitting shortstop. He was inducted into the Dubuque County Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.

Survivors include daughters, Vicki (Dean) Kramer of Sand Springs, Julie (Dennis) Schilling of Dubuque and Lolly Burger of Dubuque; one son, Ernie (Adela) Burger of Vina Del Mar, Chile; one brother, Gerald (Ruth) Burger of Dubuque; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Ernie was preceded in death by his wife, Anne; a daughter, Lori Miller; a brother, Alvin (Mildred) Burger; and his sister, Verla (Olan) Tegeler.

Memorials are preferred and may be made to a charity of your choice in memory of Ernie.

The family would like to express their sincerest thanks to the staff of Seventh Heaven Elder Group Home in Dubuque and Hospice of Dubuque for their exceptional care.

Information available at www.kramerfuneral.com.