Charles Milton Burmeister, age 91, passed away on Monday, February 12, 2017, at the Patty Elwood Center in Cresco, Iowa, after many difficult years with Alzheimers. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Friday, February 16, 2018, at Greenfield Lutheran Church in Harmony. Friends may call at the church from 1 p.m. until time of services. Lindstrom Funeral Home in Harmony is assisting the family.
Charles was born on June 29, 1926, at home in Bristol Township, rural Harmony, Minn., to Emil and Laura (Fick) Burmeister. He was baptized August 1, 1926, and confirmed September 29, 1940, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Big Spring, rural Harmony.
Charles attended the Mark Country School through eighth grade and graduated from Harmony High School in June 1943. He and his brother, Lester farmed the family farm together for several years. On September 9, 1950, Charles married Joanne Scrabeck at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Big Spring, rural Harmony. They made their home on the Burmeister farm, where they lived until 1979, at which time they sold the farm and moved into Harmony. In February, 2014, Charles moved to the Patty Elwood Center.
An avid fisherman, Charles spent time every year “up north” in Ely, Ottertail, Alexandria and Atwater. A favorite time for his grandchildren was the week they spent fishing with Grandma and Grandpa every summer. He rarely missed a trout opener on one of the areas creeks or ponds, and also fished on the Upper Iowa and in Mink Slough on the Mississippi. Charles enjoyed reading and could be counted on to read an article or item of interest from a book or newspaper to whomever was there to listen. He was a fan of the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. After his retirement, he and Joanne took many trips to various places in the U.S., including Alaska and Hawaii, and to the Caribbean.
Charles is survived by his wife Joanne of Harmony; three children: Jim (Carla) Burmeister of Eau Claire, Wis., Jerry (Lila) Burmeister of Atwater, Minn., and Jill (Andy) McKittrick of Rochester, Minn.; seven grandchildren: Laura Burmeister of Rochester, Minn., Bonnie (Scott) Martin of La Crescent, Minn., Tracy (Kirk) Dilly of Osakis, Minn., Nikki (Brian) Harrison of South St. Paul, Minn., Zach Burmeister of West Fargo, N. Dak., Lydia Burmeister and Sophia Burmeister of Rochester, Minn.; two step-grandchildren, Jackie (Justin) Peck of Rochester, Minn., and Jordan McKittrick of Burnsville, Minn.; seven great-grandchildren: Charlie, Henry and Gus Martin, Ellie Dilly, and Isaac, Emma, and Josiah Harrison, and three step-great-grandchildren, Jaxin, Jadin and Jacie Peck.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers: one in infancy, Irwin (Irene), Lester (Peg) and Harold (Hester).
May God bless his memory among family and friends