Keith Burmeister received the Educator Award from the South East Retired Educators Association of Minnesota (SEREAM) on April 26 at their annual conference in Albert Lea. The award is given to recognize an educator who has excelled in their profession and who has contributed to their community as well as to their professional organizations.
Keith is a graduate of Harmony High School. After serving two years in the U.S. Army, including deployments in Germany and France, he received a BS in mathematics from Winona State University in 1959 and an MA in Guidance and Counseling from Winona in 1971. He taught senior high math in Spring Valley and Lanesboro and served as a high school counselor in Spring Valley and Harmony, for a total of 30 years. After retiring in 2000, he drove school bus for another 12 years and was city administrator of Lanesboro for three years. Keith served as president of the SE Counselors, and president and treasurer of the Tri-County Educators. He served as treasurer of SEREAM for 11 years.
Organizations to which Keith contributed his talents included Sons of Norway, Kiwanis, Lions, Commercial Club, American Legion and Bethlehem Lutheran Church. He also provided SEMCAC transportation to take seniors to medical appointments. Keith’s athletic ability left an impression as he won his high school’s district free throw competition twice and later won three golf champions at three different golf courses. Along the way he scored three official holes in one — one each at Harmony, Lanesboro and Winona Country Club.
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